Chelsea 1-0 Swansea City
- Published
Chelsea put on a dominant display to beat Swansea and claim a fifth win in seven league games to remain two points off the top of the Premier League.
Eden Hazard cut in from the left and drove in a shot to put the Blues ahead.
Swansea had a rare chance when Alvaro Vazquez had a shot tipped over and it was only Chelsea's lack of ruthlessness which kept them in the game.
Samuel Eto'o was twice in on goal but denied by saves from the impressive Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmel.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has highlighted the lack of goals from his attack this season and this game will only increase his frustration as his side failed to turn their clear superiority into a more convincing win.
Mourinho became a more animated figure on the touchline the longer the Blues failed to build on their early lead, although Swansea never looked like mustering an equaliser.
The visitors tried and failed to apply some late pressure and have now won only twice in their last 10 top-flight matches.
Chelsea had shown their stubborn side in a dour draw at Arsenal on Monday but the emphasis was on them to take the initiative against Swansea at Stamford Bridge.
There was an attacking energy and intensity about the home side and, if Oscar's first touch in collecting Eden Hazard's through ball had been better, the Brazilian would have been clean through on goal.
Blues right-back Branislav Ivanovic latched onto an Eto'o lay-off and had an angled shot deflected wide by centre-back Ashley Williams, while home captain John Terry's volley was tipped over by Tremmel.
As the visiting goal led a charmed life, Terry also went close when he tried to divert in a Juan Mata cross, but had his effort from a tight angle cleared off the goal-line by the busy Williams.
Swansea's resolve was finally broken when the livewire Hazard cut in from the left and drove in a shot which went through Tremmel, who had been distracted by Williams trying to dive across to block the strike in front of him.
Chelsea were easily on top but survived a scare following a rare Swansea foray forward. Vazquez got on the end of Jonjo Shelvey's knock-on only to see his first-time shot palmed over by keeper Petr Cech.
The chance would not have gone down well with Mourinho, whose bemusement at his side's missed chances would have increased even more so either side of half-time.
Mata twice set up Eto'o but the Cameroonian forward had a left-foot strike saved by Tremmel, before his six-yard effort from a first-time cross was blocked at point-blank range by the Swansea stopper.
Swansea improved to limit Chelsea's chances, although they struggled to find any attacking potency and would have conceded a second had Tremmel not turned round a well-struck Lampard shot around the post.
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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho:
"The three points and clean sheet, yes (I am satisfied). The way we controlled a very good team for 75-80 minutes was very good too.
"But we had so many chances that you have to score at least once (more) and create a more comfortable situation for yourselves.
"I have to say the biggest person responsible for that was their goalkeeper because he made some fantastic saves."
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup:
"We stayed in the game until the last second and that says a lot about our team.
"It was a very difficult game against one of the favourites to win the title at Stamford Bridge but I think we did well, much better in the second half.
"It is true we couldn't keep the ball as much as we are used to but you have to give credit to the opponent as well."
- Published7 June 2019