FAB FLAP IS A BLUES BONUS
Conte’s title nerves eased as Lukasz caught napping
The Chelsea boss didn’t sleep for a week when the Juventus team he captained capitulated in the Serie A title race 17 years ago. And with 18 minutes remaining at Stamford Bridge yesterday the Italian was suffering deja vu. Swansea had not only cancelled out Cesc Fabregas’ opener thanks t o Fernando Llorente, they were threatening to inf lict a first defeat in nine. Then Pedro gathered Fabregas’ pass 25 yards out before f iring a curling shot more borne out of hope rather than expectation.
And when Fabianski plunged to his right it seemed a routine save – until the ball inexplicably squirmed from his grasp and into the net.
Diego Costa then settled any nerves with an 83rd- minute finish and instead of worrying the 1- 1 stalemate at Burnley two weeks ago was about to become more than a blip Chelsea are once more turning the title race into a procession. The Blues went 11 points clear and Conte said: “I am
Chelsea ..................... 3 Swansea................... 1 Simon Mullock
lucky I have a lot of players who know how to win. They know what we need to do. If I see them relax then I will tell them to be focused.
“But I don’t remember a single moment when we really suffered today. I have a team that deserves to be top of the table.
“Whether we win the title or not I don’t know. But we are up there and want to stay in this position.”
Paul Clement complained long and hard his Swans deserved more.
And they would have surely built on a run that saw them win three of their previous four had referee Neil Swarbrick not turned a blind eye to a blatant penalty.
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.
It was a clear handbal l 22 minutes from time that led to the Swansea boss motioning like a juggler – but Swarbrick saw no evil.
Clement said: “He didn’t quite juggle the ball but it was a definite penalty. I thought it had hit both hands. It didn’t, it only hit one – but it should still have 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 cut his teeth as a coach at Chelsea and returned with a game plan of frustrating the home side. He was working on Plan B after just 19 minutes.
Pedro’s cross found Fabregas arriving late into the box and his scuffed shot reached the bottom corner with the help of a deflection.
It was fitting that Frank Lampard was a guest of honour because it was the kind of trademark strike Chelsea fans had come to expect of their record goalscorer.
Conte’s side seemed to be sleepwalking to another victory but were shaken awake in first-half injury-time when Llorente headed Sigurdsson’s free-kick home.
Chelsea toiled after the break as Fabianski did well to deny Eden Hazard before Fabregas crashed a shot against the top of the crossbar.
But Chelsea got a double break as Azpilicueta got away with his handball at one end and Pedro got a helping hand off Fabianski.
Clement said: “Lukasz is very disappointed. You could tell with his reaction.”
Costa sealed victory with his 17th of the season – an emphatic volley from Hazard’s cross – as his boss continues to dream of the title.