CHELSEA HALTED BY BRADY SUPER STRIKE
ANTONIO CONTE insists the title race is not over after his Chelsea were held to a draw at Burnley. The Londoners looked set to ease to victory after Pedro gave them an early lead but Robbie Brady’s free-kick earned Burnley a point. Chelsea are ten points clear but that lead will be cut to eight if Manchester City win at Bournemouth tonight. Conte said: ‘There are 13 games before the end. If someone thinks this league is finished, I can tell you now, no. There are six teams that can win the league and anything can happen. ‘We must be very disappointed that we have only taken one point but I am sure of the commitment. ‘Sometimes there are tough games and this was very tough. Burnley play the long balls and fight.’ Credit must go to Sean Dyche and his players. The most impressive aspect of the match, more than Chelsea’s sprint out of the gate at the start, was Burnley’s response to going behind after seven minutes. Chelsea went ahead after a counter-attacking move started by Pedro and N’Golo Kante and ending with an impressive run by Victor Moses on the right, followed by a fine cross to Pedro, completing a late arrival in the box. His first touch was a delight, creating space, his second left Tom Heaton no chance. It was the fastest opposition goal scored at Turf Moor this season by 30 minutes, and, as such, could easily have thrown Dyche’s side. Instead, they responded brilliantly — a pair of hopeful, tame shots from Ashley Barnes in the eighth and 19th minutes building to a head of steam that saw them level after 24 minutes. The goal was a beauty and made an instant local hero of record signing Brady. Acquired from Norwich for £13million in the January transfer window, Brady was already known to Conte, after scoring a header against Italy in last summer’s European Championship. This one could not have been more different. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois played a poor ball out which forced Nemanja Matic to give away a foul, 25 yards from goal. Brady and Joey Barton stood over it and it was immediately clear the new man had made a strong impression. Barton does not give way easily in such situations. Instead he stood by as Brady lifted the ball over the Chelsea wall — at its shortest point — and out of the reach of Courtois. Burnley were magnificent and a draw does not flatter them. If Chelsea take solace despite the two points dropped, it will come from the fact that they do not have to come here again this season but Tottenham and Manchester United do.