Chelsea Clear At Christmas

Chelsea will be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day after beating Stoke 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium.

Chelsea were in front with just two minutes on the clock when John Terry rose highest to force home a Cesc Fabregas corner.

Stoke threatened briefly in the second period but Fabregas sealed the victory with 13 minutes left. The result means Jose Mourinho’s men pulled three points clear of Manchester City again.

Chelsea raced raced into the early lead when Fabregas - registering yet another assist for the campaign - swung in a corner and Terry got the better of Geoff Cameron to head in his first Premier League goal since December 2013.

Fit-again Thibaut Courtois then produced a good save to keep the visitors ahead to tip a deflected Steven Nzonzi shot around the post and Jonathan Walters saw an effort blocked by Gary Cahill.

Chelsea might have added a second goal just after the half-hour mark as Nemanja Matic made a fine tackle to rob Cameron of possession, the Blues broke away and the ball was fed to Diego Costa, who was through one on one with Asmir Begovic but sent his shot narrowly wide.

Fabregas had a penalty claim dismissed after the break as Jose Mourinho's men attempted to double their lead. The Spain midfielder went down in the penalty box and Willian sent the ball into Begovic's hands.

Erik Pieters joined Phil Bardsley in the notebook - booked following a minor flare-up with Costa - and Eden Hazard then set up Fabregas, whose flick was caught by Begovic.

In the 63rd minute Stoke striker Peter Crouch was forced off with an injury, with Mame Biram Diouf coming on, before Cameron was replaced by Charlie Adam, and the latter went closest to equalising with a drilled shot just wide.

But it was not long after that that Chelsea looked to have made the game safe as the ball came to Fabregas in the box from Hazard and the Spaniard took one touch before seemingly scuffing a shot that deceived Begovic to roll in (77).

Begovic came out moments later to deny Costa from making it 3-0, before another Stoke substitute Oussama Assaidi - scorer of the winner in this fixture last season - had a shot comfortably saved by Courtois.