Blistering Chelsea ease past Stoke

Chelsea travelled to the Potteries hoping to make up ground on the two Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League table. Stoke, on the other hand, were hoping to regain some form after failing to win their last four games in all competitions.

The visitors made a blistering start to the game and took the lead after just two minutes. Stoke's makeshift defence was opened up and made to pay for a lack of communication when Morata chased a hopeful long ball from Azpilicueta and calmly slotted past Butland.

Pedro doubled Chelsea's lead on the half-hour mark when he pounced onto an under-hit chested back pass from Fletcher. The pacey winger raced through and expertly fired a curling effort into the bottom corner.

Minutes later Bakayoko's clumsy challenge on Allen handed Stoke a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box. Shaqiri stepped up and his strike looked to be heading into the top corner, but the Chelsea wall did it's job and blocked.

Stoke reacted well and piled the pressure on towards the end of the first half. Shaqiri delivered a fantastic corner into the area where it fell for Choupo-Moting, but he was unable to get a shot on target.

Fletcher then saw a low effort blocked before Diouf's acrobatic overhead kick flew wide and the half-time whistle came as a relief for Chelsea.

A fiery start to the second 45 saw Alonso hit the deck after the smallest of touches from Diouf. Stoke put the ball out for a throw and the defender immediately jumped back to his feet, much to the annoyance of the Stoke fans.

He was then booked for a clumsy foul on Allen and was lucky to escape a second yellow after he clattered into Diouf again. Antonio Conte took no risks and quickly took him off and replaced him with the experienced Cahill.

With half an hour to play, Crouch replaced the ineffective Jese and immediately used his towering presence to set up a chance for the hosts. The striker was found at the back post and he perfectly nodded down for Diouf, who got past Rudiger but fired over.

Stoke should have had one back when Shaqiri picked out Fletcher in the six-yard box but, with the goal gaping, he somehow got the header all wrong and the chance went begging.

Chelsea made the hosts rue their mistakes and finished the game with a late brace.

First, Johnson gave away possession on halfway and was punished as Morata drove all the way into the area before finishing past Butland.

Minutes later, Fabregas dinked a delightful ball over for Azpilicueta, he chested the ball down for Morata, who made no mistake and tapped in from four yards out.

Chelsea wanted a fifth and Morata almost had it when he ran onto a Fabregas through ball, but he shot wide. Moses also went close when his fierce strike bounced of Morata and was cleared off the line by Johnson.

Conte’s side closed out the game with ease to keep pace with the league leaders. Mark Hughes's side put up an impressive fight in first half, but collapsed in the second and ultimately always looked the inferior side at the Bet365 Stadium.