Summary

  • Leaders Chelsea have lost one of last 22 matches

  • Hazard misses out with unspecified injury

  • Stoke unbeaten in eight home league games

  • Arnautovic returns from illness

  1. Stoke City 1-2 Chelseapublished at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2017

    Gary Cahill makes up for conceding a penalty with a late winner as Premier League leaders Chelsea move 13 points clear.

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  2. Postpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2017

    Stoke 1-2 Chelsea

    Antonio Conte runs on to the pitch to celebrate with his players, a big grin plastered across his face. He raises his arms to the visiting fans. Chelsea, for now, are 13 points clear at the top. It's hard to see anyone stopping them now.

    I'm off to write the full report for the website. Thanks for your company - I'll be back on Sunday with live text coverage of Atletico Madrid versus Sevilla in La Liga. See you soon.

  3. FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2017

    Stoke 1-2 Chelsea

    "And now you're gonna believe us, we're gonna win the league," chant the Chelsea fans. Most of us believed you some time ago.

    Gary CahillImage source, Getty Images
  4. RED CARDpublished at 90+4 mins

    Stoke 1-2 Chelsea

    I told you we wouldn't end with 11 against 11. It's Stoke full-back Phil Bardsley who picks up a second yellow card for a wild hack at Cesc Fabregas - and is sent off.

  5. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Stoke 1-2 Chelsea

    Chelsea seeking a third on the break. First Diego Costa hits the outside of the post from Pedro's pass infield, and then Ruben Loftus-Cheek, cutting in from the left, forces a fine save from Lee Grant, who gets down low to push aside the shot.

  6. Postpublished at 90+1 mins

    Stoke 1-2 Chelsea

    Into stoppage time; Geoff Cameron is the fifth Stoke player booked for a foul, and Peter Crouch is thrown on for Ramadan Sobhi as the home side seek a late equaliser.

  7. goal

    Cahill makes amends for penaltypublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2017

    Stoke 1-2 Chelsea

    The mark of champions? Chelsea have been pressing through the second half for a winner, and they may have it. Erik Pieters concedes a corner under pressure from Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Willian delivers, David Luiz heads goalwards, Pieters gets in the way, and Gary Cahill slams in the loose ball from about eight yards. A sweet moment for Cahill, who gave away Stoke's penalty in the first half.

    Gary CahillImage source, Reuters
  8. goal

    GOAL - Stoke 1-2 Chelseapublished at 87 mins

    Gary Cahill

  9. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    Stoke, on the back foot for most of the match, have a flurry of pressure. A couple of corners come to nothing, Marko Arnautovic threatens to run through before being stopped, and Ramadan Sobhi miskicks towards the corner flag when a bit more composure could have turned one point into three for Mark Hughes' team. We're nicely set for the final five minutes here.

  10. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 82 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek makes a rare Chelsea appearance as a substitute for the final eight minutes; he's on for Nemanja Matic as Antonio Conte chases the win.

  11. Postpublished at 16:37 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2017

    Stoke City 1-1 Chelsea

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live

    Stoke are well organised, well drilled and one or two players look very comfortable in possession but, after the third or fourth pass, it seems to break down too easily. 

    I'm surprised Mark Hughes hasn't put a couple of subs on to freshen it up.   

  12. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    I was critical of Diego Costa in the first half, but the Chelsea striker can take it as well as dish it out. He takes a bit of a buffeting from Phil Bardsley - who has to be careful, given that he is on a booking - and wins a free-kick. Stoke deal with the initial delivery, but Costa then has a half-chance as he meets a long cross, guiding his header over from an angle.

    Diego CostaImage source, PA
  13. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    Chelsea look the likelier winners, but Stoke are hanging in there for now. Willian on the burst for the visitors, plays a pass left for Pedro to sprint on to and hit first time. Lee Grant thrusts up an arm to tip the shot away - excellent goalkeeping.

  14. 'Stoke need to work on set-pieces'published at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2017

    Stoke City 1-1 Chelsea

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-England winger, BBC Radio 5 live

    Mark Hughes and his team need to work on set pieces. 

    How many times do we see their corners and free kicks either hit the first man or go all the way over the last one?! 

  15. Fantasy football with Fabregaspublished at 73 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    Cesc FabregasImage source, EPA

    Fabregas has proved himself a valuable player for Chelsea of late, despite his reduced role.

    Stats show he has produced assists and created chances more regularly than any other Premier League player this season.

    "For sure, Cesc gives you great quality, great fantasy and assists," said Chelsea manager Antonio Conte before today's game.

  16. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 71 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    A change for Chelsea; Cesc Fabregas is on in midfield for wing-back Victor Moses, and Antonio Conte switches to a back four, with Cesar Azpilicueta moving to right-back.

    After that change, Pedro clatters Stoke full-back Phil Bardsley, and is rather fortunate to escape without a booking.

  17. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    Chelsea having the better of the second half, just as they had the better of the first, but not making their superiority count. Willian swings over a corner now, but Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant is fouled by Diego Costa, and the danger passes.

  18. Postpublished at 67 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    The ball runs loose from the free-kick, and Alonso collides with Mame Biram Diouf by the touchline. The Stoke substitute is up for a bit of afters, by the looks of it. But Alonso isn't really interested, and the potential confrontation fizzles out.

  19. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 66 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    Marcos Alonso whips the left-footed free-kick over the wall and off the bar!

    Alonso free-kickImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 65 mins

    Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

    More fun and games. Willian feeds a diagonal ball through for Pedro, who is taken down just outside the penalty area by Erik Pieters - an offence for which the Stoke defender is booked. There's a yellow card too for Bruno Martins Indi, who took out Diego Costa as Willian played the pass.