Summary
Victory at home to Swansea on Sunday afternoon
consolidated Chelsea's position in the top four.
Goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard, who came on
for the injured Ramires in the first half, extended the gap to Spurs in fifth
place to three points, with our north London neighbours only managing a draw at
Wigan on Saturday.
Two goals inside five minutes at the end of the
half did the damage, after which the result was never in doubt.
First, a well-worked move from back to front saw
Lampard slip in Oscar, who fired low into the far bottom corner, before Juan
Mata was fouled inside the area to allow the 34-year-old his 201st Chelsea
goal.
Both sides had had chances beforehand, Gary
Cahill notably heading over on his return from injury, and in the second half
Demba Ba engaged in a personal battle with Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who
made a string of impressive saves.
The win sets us up well for a string of fixtures
that could see us into the final of the Europa League before decisive domestic
action against Manchester United and Spurs.
Chelsea v Swansea
Team news
Rafael Benitez made four changes from the side
that started against Basel on Thursday night. Cahill made his first appearance
in over a month alongside John Terry in central defence. Branislav Ivanovic
made way.
In midfield, Ramires dropped in alongside David
Luiz with Lampard and Victor Moses replaced by Mata, who celebrated his 25th
birthday, and Oscar. Demba Ba was in for Fernando Torres up front.
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup made two changes
to their side, with Wayne Routledge and Ki Sung-Yeung preferred to Luke Moore
and Nathan Dyer. Michu was the lone striker.
First half
A win would leave Chelsea in a strong position
for Champions League qualification, and against a Swansea side touted as
already being on its summer holidays after lifting the Capital One Cup in
February, a routine three points would be expected.
But factoring in the midweek trip to Switzerland,
and the slow start made against Manchester City following midweek action a
fortnight ago, it was perhaps not surprising to see a slightly lacklustre
opening from the Blues.
That said, there were still goalscoring
opportunities, as first Eden Hazard and then Demba Ba brought saves from Vorm
before the visitors had even ventured into the Chelsea area.
When they eventually did in the 20th minute,
Ashley Cole was on hand to clear from a dangerous cross with both Michu and
Jonathan de Guzman lurking, before Pablo Hernandez shot just past Petr Cech's
right-hand post.
Ramires was forced off after 24 minutes with what
looked like a thigh problem, allowing Lampard to leave the bench. His introduction
was followed by a scramble inside the Swansea box that saw both Ba and Oscar
fail to get shots away, the visitors eventually clearing the ball to safety.
Renowned for their tidy possession football,
Swansea were spending more time without it than they were accustomed to,
instead threatening more on the counter. One break saw Hernandez cut in from
the right and dink a clever pass for Michu, but the Spaniard
uncharacteristically shot way wide.
At the other end Lampard won possession in
midfield and after making up 30 yards unchallenged, shot low at goal only to
see Vorm extend an arm to turn it around the post. From the corner, Cahill
headed just over the bar.
Frustration was just beginning to set in, so what
better time to take the lead than three minutes before the break. It started on
halfway when John Terry cut out a loose ball, and he exchanged passes with
Lampard before putting him away, the midfielder just clipping the ball to his
right for Oscar to take a touch and fire low across Vorm.
Treatment to Ramires and subsequently David Luiz
made for four minutes of injury time, and Chelsea would again capitalise before
the half-time whistle.
Mata, who had been quiet, came in from the right
and was tripped inside the area by Leon Britton. Mark Clattenburg pointed to
the spot, and Lampard fired home his 201st Chelsea goal low into Vorm's
bottom-right corner.
It was a fitting way to end a half that would be
followed by the introduction of Bobby Tambling at the break. Chelsea's record
goalscorer, on 202, has been in hospital recently but having been released in
Ireland on Wednesday, he had travelled over for this game and was presented to
the crowd to receive a fantastic reception.
Bobby Tambling at Chelsea v Swansea
Second half
Anyone expecting it to be game over with Chelsea
shutting up shop for three points and Swansea exercising damage limitation
would have been surprised by the first few minutes of the second half. Instead
it dramatically opened up.
Lampard nearly claimed his second of the afternoon
before Hernandez fired way, way over after a swift Swansea break, and then Ba
outmuscled Ashley Williams before seeing his deflected shot well blocked by
Vorm at the near post.
Angel Rangel then saw a decent chance deflected
behind and Vorm pulled off a brilliant one-handed stop to deny Ba once more. An
hour had not yet passed.
Finally it did settle down as Chelsea reduced the
tempo, but still Swansea came looking for a way back into the game. For all
their tidy passing, around the area they were lacking quality with their final
ball. Mata nearly put the result beyond doubt 18 minutes from time, but saw his
right-footed clip roll just the wrong side of the post.
Swansea sub Itay Shechter had a shot fly narrowly
over and Ba again worked Vorm as the clock ticked down. Inside the final five
minutes Lampard had a powerful volley blocked.
Goal number 202 would have to wait, but with
important points accumulated, nobody will have any complaints.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry (c), Cole; Ramires (Lampard 24), David
Luiz; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Ba.
Unused substitutes: Turnbull, Ivanovic, Bertrand,
Mikel, Benayoun, Torres.
Goals Oscar 43, Lampard 45+1
Booked Azpilicueta 55
Swansea City (4-2-3-1): Vorm; Rangel, Chico, Williams (c), Davies (Taylor 81); Britton (Shechter
69), Ki Sung-Yueng; Hernandez, De Guzman, Routledge (Dyer 66); Michu.
Unused substitutes: Tremmel, Monk, Tiendalli,
Moore.
Goals
Booked Williams 37, Britton 45+1, Davies 69
Referee Mark Clattenburg
Crowd 41,780
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