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ement rd that his team deserved more. And they would have surely built on a recent run that had seen them beat Liverpool, Leicester and Southampton had referee Neil Swarbrick not turned a blind eye to a blatant penalty decision in the 68th minute.

Gylfi Sigurdsson skilfully clipped the ball over the head of Victor Moses and was attempting to do the same to Cesar Azpilicueta when the Spaniard instinctively stuck out an arm to halt his progress.

“He didn’t quite juggle the ball, but it was a definite penalty,” said the Swansea boss. “I thought it had hit both hands. It didn’t, it only hit one, but it should have still been given.

“I haven’t asked the referee why it wasn’t given. I didn’t even bother speaking to him because I’m not sure there was any point.”

Clement, who cut his teeth as a coach at Chelsea, had returned to his former club with a game-plan based on frustrating the home side – but he was working on a Plan B after just 19 minutes.

Eden Hazard’s pass and Pedro’s cross found Fabregas arriving late into the Swansea box and the Spaniard’s scuffed shot found the bottom corner with the help of a deflection.

But the Swans hit back in first-half injury-time when Sigurdsson floated in a free-kick and Llorente’s powerful header found the top corner.

Chelsea toiled after the break, but Fabianski did well to deny Hazard after the Belgian had broke through.

Then Fabregas crashed a shot against the top of the crossbar.

But Chelsea got a double break. Azpilicueta got away with his handball at one end and Pedro got a helping hand off Fabianski.

“Lukasz is very disappointed,” added Clement. “You could tell with his reaction.”

Costa sealed victory with an emphatic volley from Hazard’s brilliant run and cross.

And his manager can continue to dream happy dreams of the title.