BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR BORO
Middlesbrough’s relegation confirmed with defeat away to champions elect
MIDDLESBROUGH were consigned to relegation as Chelsea moved within three points of winning the Premier League title with a dominant display at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic saw Chelsea re-establish a sevenpoint lead over Tottenham Hotspur.
Manager Antonio Conte’s men can win the title before Spurs next play, with victory at West Brom on Friday night.
Costa scored his 20th league goal of the season, converting a pass from the excellent Cesc Fabregas, and Alonso netted from a similar position before half-time.
Matic struck in a second half, which began with Pedro hitting the bar, as Brad Guzan conceded through his legs for a third time.
It could have been many more for the champions-elect in a onesided contest.
Boro, now with one win in 19 league games, will be playing in the Championship next season after a record-equalling fourth demotion from the Premier League.
The visitors’ night began with a bump. A minor nudge in rush hour traffic contributed to the delayed arrival of the Boro bus.
History was also against Boro, who were without a league win and had not even scored in seven games at Stamford Bridge since 2001.
Chelsea’s in-house TV channel showed the 1997 FA Cup final between the teams prior to the match, when Roberto di Matteo scored after 42 seconds.
Chelsea play Arsenal in the FA Cup final on May 27 hoping to complete the season with the double.
Di Matteo and his predecessor as Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas lost their jobs after defeats at The Hawthorns.
Conte goes there on Friday seeking the title in his first season as head coach.
N’Golo Kante was not risked due to a minor thigh injury and Fabregas, his replacement, found his passing range from the start.
The Spain playmaker lofted the ball to Alonso, whose volley was turned on to the bar by Brad Guzan in the second minute.
Boro did not learn as Chelsea repeated the trick time and again.
Home supporters sang “we’re going to win the league” as Chelsea played through, over and round Boro almost at will. Visiting fans responded “we’re going down”.
When Chelsea breached Boro’s defence it was through a familiar combination.
Fabregas’s lofted ball found Costa unmarked six yards out. He controlled the ball and passed through the legs of Guzan.
Cesar Azpilicueta next stepped up to mimic Fabregas, clipping a pass over for Alonso to slide in, shoot and score between Guzan’s legs.
Guzan saved from Moses before the interval and Pedro hit the bar within seconds of the restart.
Alonso next fired wide – and just out of reach of Costa - Gary Cahill stung the hands of Guzan and a deflected Fabregas effort went wide.
A third goal came when Fabregas found Matic, who controlled the ball on his chest and swept the ball in, the third goal scored through Guzan’s legs.
Thibaut Courtois was finally called into action to make a regulation save from Grant Leadbitter, but Chelsea resumed pouring forwards, with Pedro firing over and Guzan denying Moses. There was time for sentiment from Conte as John Terry came on for his 715th Chelsea appearance.