A slender 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion has allowed Chelsea to regain third position in the Premier League.
Chelsea took control of the game early on and could have been ahead when Demba Ba found Oscar, but the Brazilian's effort was pushed away by Ben Foster.
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Despite spending most of the first half defending, West Brom were close to taking the lead as Steven Reid forced Petr Cech into a save from a 30-yard free kick.
The stubborn resistance displayed by the Baggies was ended in the 28th minute as Ba found space inside the box to tap in a knock-down from David Luiz.
Chelsea had opportunities to double their lead either side of the break, with Juan Mata going close with a volley before Ba saw an effort blocked by the outstretched hand of Foster.
Despite dominating for most of the game, Chelsea were forced deeper into their own half as the final whistle approached.
However, the home side's defence held firm to survive the late pressure and claim a crucial victory.
Callum Mulvihill
