EPL: How Costa despatched Chelsea pinnacle of table

Diego Costa

Diego Costa scored his tenth goal of the season as Chelsea received 1-0 at Middlesbrough to document a 6th consecutive victory and take over at the premier League summit.

Costa struck for the 0.33 immediately game with half-time approaching in Sunday’s recreation as Antonio Conte’s aspect underlined their title credentials through posting a 6th easy sheet in a row.

It took them a factor clean of Liverpool and Manchester town, and three ahead of fourth-area Arsenal.

“It become a very good overall performance against a totally robust crew,” Chelsea manager Conte advised Sky sports.

“Don’t neglect Middlesbrough drew with Arsenal and man metropolis away. for this reason I’m pleased for the overall performance and mind-set of my players.

“if you have the possibility to kill the game, it’s critical to kill the sport. but I’m thrilled because Middlesbrough showed themselves to be an awesome team.”

only the woodwork averted Chelsea from prevailing by a extra handsome margin as Pedro Rodriguez hit the bar midway via the second half, throughout which Middlesbrough were compelled to hold on for lengthy spells.

Aitor Karanka’s facet retained wish while the deficit remained at a unmarried goal, but the gulf in magnificence among the perimeters changed into clear.

It leaves Boro one point above the relegation region of their first season returned within the most useful League following advertising.

“i'm really thrilled with the attitude of my players,” stated Karanka.

“i am not concerned approximately the appearance of the league table for the time being because all i am worried approximately is the performances.

“If the performances have been horrific i'd fear, but if the performances are true then we will start to win games.”

Costa rewarded Chelsea’s dominance as the Spain striker put the visitors — unchanged for the 5th consecutive league game — ahead 4 mins earlier than the end of the primary half.

It stemmed from a disputed corner, Middlesbrough claiming debutant full-returned Fabio da Silva had not touched the ball as it ran out of play.

– Fingertip keep –

Eden chance’s in-swinging set-piece looped into the air as Calum Chambers and Gaston Ramirez challenged Marcos Alonso on the near put up.

regardless of the hosts having numbers back to defend, Costa reacted first to volley the free ball home from inside the six-backyard container, taking him to double figures for the campaign.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes became partly at fault for failing to return off his line.

His indecision become in stark contrast to in advance in the 1/2 when the previous Barcelona man produced a beautiful fingertip save to deflect a primary-time Pedro shot over the bar.

It changed into considered one of few uncomplicated possibilities earlier than the c program languageperiod as Boro have been largely successful of their tries to negate the threat of Conte’s aspect by packing midfield and seeking to counter-attack.

The out-of-contact Alvaro Negredo wasted their  fundamental openings, first firing across the face of intention after which heading huge from Antonio Barragan’s deep go.

Ramirez shot over early within the second half after Negredo’s dummy created area on the edge of the field for the Uruguay international, however it become an extraordinary hazard from the hosts.

Boro have compelled attracts towards Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s metropolis this season, however after falling behind they rarely gave the impression of troubling Chelsea’s three-man back line.

Having not conceded a league intention for the reason that September 24 — almost 10 hours of football — Chelsea are on their great protecting run for six years.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois preserved their modern close-out late on when he parried a effective Negredo volley because the hosts belatedly driven bodies ahead.

the majority of possibilities arrived at the opposite end.

Alonso almost doubled the visitors’ benefit inside seconds of kick-off inside the second half of, the Spaniard forcing a nice low keep from Valdes after hazard helped on Victor Moses’s pass.

the second one aim did not materialise, but Chelsea closed out their modern-day victory with relative ease to secure every other valuable three factors towards their developing identify task.