Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has acknowledged that his side "gave everything" during their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Thursday night.
The Blues headed into the game in 10th position in the Premier League standings and 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United.
Chelsea produced their best performance since the resumption of action against the champions, having the better of the first half before eventually succumbing to a close-range Riyad Mahrez finish shortly after the hour mark.
Despite suffering a sixth defeat in 17 top-flight fixtures this season, there were plenty of positives for Chelsea who had to react to early injuries to Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic.
Although there was disappointment after the double blow, it gave Carney Chukwuemeka a chance to impress, one which he marked with a encouraging performance and a shot which struck the base of the post and bounced clear.
© Reuters
Limited to one in-game change after the 22nd minute, Potter made a triple alteration at the start of the final quarter, introducing the likes of Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson.
While both players made their mark, it was Hall who stood out, the versatile left-sided player offering a constant threat down the flank and failing to take a late opening as Chelsea pressed for an equaliser.
Nevertheless, with the double fitness blow following an injury to Mason Mount in training on Wednesday, Potter admitted that he hoped the defeat would be put into context with Chelsea now dealing with almost a full XI of sidelined players.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Potter said: "When you consider everything losing Raheem [Sterling] and Christian [Pulisic] so early, the lads gave everything. It was a spirited performance against a top team, so apart from the result I'm proud of the players.
© Reuters
"It's tough at the moment I must admit and I feel for the boys. We have to stick together. It was disappointing to lose those guys but the players on the pitch and the ones that came in gave everything and that's all you can ask for.
"We can't complain about it [the injury list] We just have to get on with it. The boys on the pitch gave everything and did what we asked them to do and Manchester City don't give you much. We had to freshen it up but Lewis [Hall] and Omari [Hutchinson] are young players starting out and Conor [Gallagher] gave everything, it was nice to have that personality from the bench.
"You always have to take responsibility but you hope people look at the whole context and see where we are and what we have had to deal with but at the same time emotions are high and you have to try and ride out any storm and try to stay level. The crowd were behind the team and could see them doing everything."
Chelsea face City again in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, that tie taking place at the Etihad Stadium.
Darren Plant
