Chelsea 1-0 Stoke - di Matteo on the game | English Premier League 2012-13
- 10 years ago
Ashley Cole was the unlikely hero as Chelsea scored a dramatic late winner to breach Stoke's resistance.
The England defender stole in with five minutes left to prod in Juan Mata's flick and keep Chelsea three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Stoke threatened to cause an upset when Jonathan Walters headed onto Cech's crossbar before half-time.
Manager Tony Pulis threw Michael Owen on as he sensed victory, but it was Chelsea who snatched all three points.
With Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watching from the stands after his unscheduled visit to the training ground on Thursday, the onus was on Roberto Di Matteo to win - and win well.
But against a side as disciplined and obdurate as Stoke that was never likely to be straightforward, despite their woeful record at Stamford Bridge.
The Potters last league victory there had come in April 1974, but with Di Matteo opting to leave captain John Terry and Frank Lampard on the sidelines this was not a familiar, forceful Chelsea of the recent past.
Rather than reinforce in the defensive midfield area after seeing Chelsea win the Champions League in May, Abramovich has invested in youth and attacking flair and almost all £80m of it was given its chance to shine against Stoke.
The England defender stole in with five minutes left to prod in Juan Mata's flick and keep Chelsea three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Stoke threatened to cause an upset when Jonathan Walters headed onto Cech's crossbar before half-time.
Manager Tony Pulis threw Michael Owen on as he sensed victory, but it was Chelsea who snatched all three points.
With Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watching from the stands after his unscheduled visit to the training ground on Thursday, the onus was on Roberto Di Matteo to win - and win well.
But against a side as disciplined and obdurate as Stoke that was never likely to be straightforward, despite their woeful record at Stamford Bridge.
The Potters last league victory there had come in April 1974, but with Di Matteo opting to leave captain John Terry and Frank Lampard on the sidelines this was not a familiar, forceful Chelsea of the recent past.
Rather than reinforce in the defensive midfield area after seeing Chelsea win the Champions League in May, Abramovich has invested in youth and attacking flair and almost all £80m of it was given its chance to shine against Stoke.