Demba Ba scored his second winning goal in two games as Chelsea overcame Swansea City’s ten men by a single goal to keep their title hopes on track.
Following Liverpool’s win against City, Mourinho knew his side would have to come up with the goods in order to have any chance of going on to win the title.
Unbelievably, the Blues’ title challenge looks more alive than last week, when they brushed Stoke aside, following Manchester City’s dropped points.
Chelsea were without Eden Hazard following the winger’s calf injury sustained against PSG midweek, and Salah got his second start for the club.
Demba Ba was rewarded for his winning goal in midweek with just his first start since October, and Ramires returned from suspension to partner Matic in midfield.
After a slow and action-lacking first quarter of an hour, the game sprung into life after Swansea’s Chico Flores picked up two yellows inside a minute and was sent off by referee Phil Dowd, with over three quarters of the game still to go.
Chelsea failed to capitalise during the first half, with Mohamad Salah missing some golden opportunities. Petr Cech even appeared to be the busier of the two keepers in the first 45 minutes.
At 0-0 going into the break, it was the story of Chelsea’s season – failing to get going against the so called ‘smaller teams’. A failure to take the maximum points today would surely have been the end to Chelsea’s title challenge.
Chelsea bought on Oscar and Eto’o at halftime to replace Schurrle and Ramires and this seemed to introduce a spark into the Chelsea side as well as some much needed conviction.
Demba Ba came close ten minutes after the restart, glancing his header wide from Branislav Ivanovic’s cross as Chelsea imposed themselves increasingly on Swansea’s ten men.
The breakthrough came around 10 minutes later as Ba latched onto Nemanja Matic’s through-ball, powerfully moving his way past defenders and firing under Michel Vorm’s body.
Chelsea kept the ball well from there on in, winning many corners and staying tight at the back to eventually run the clock all the way down and claim a vital, but expected, three points.
Chelsea remain in second place in the Premiership table, two points off leaders Liverpool and five ahead of City who are still to play their two games in hand.
Assistant manager Steve Holland was understandably delighted with the team’s win, especially after a busy week:
“On the back of playing a big Champions League game, this is a very good three points for us.”
A player that many Chelsea fans have rooted for throughout the season has been Demba Ba, as the Senegalese striker has lacked opportunities to make his mark on the team, but still got a rather impressive goal tally.
Holland added that Ba “deserved” today’s start and his successes this week, and claimed he worked “very hard after training” during the week. It appears Fernando Torres is now the third choice striker at the London club.
Indeed, Demba Ba reflected on the week with fond memories and felt that he has taken the chances that have come his way, with goals against PSG and today’s winner:
“It’s not been a bad week, I’m happy for the team, for me and my family. I never stopped believing. I knew I would get the opportunity to come in and do something.”
Finally, Holland reassured Chelsea fans over the fitness of Eden Hazard, saying it shouldn’t be long before he is back, to go alongside rumours that he could be back for the Champions League semifinal first leg on April 22nd.
The Sky Sports MOTM award went to Demba Ba today following his match-winning strike, but Nemanja Matic also has a case following a solid display defensively and yet another assist.
As always, the Chelsea defenders got on with their work quietly to rack up another clean sheet; no team has more than Chelsea this season.
Who was your Chelsea Man of the Match?
Chelsea’s next game is at home to bottom club Sunderland next Saturday when Chelsea will meet former player Gus Poyet in the opposition dugout.
The big, and most likely title deciding game, however, will be against Liverpool at Anfield as the two top teams go toe-to-toe in what will surely be a tense but entertaining affair.
Swansea vs Chelsea: Match facts
- Demba Ba has scored 3 goals in his last 4 Premier League appearances having netted 1 in his previous 12
- Nemanja Matic has now made four assists in his last four Premier League matches
- Chelsea failed to hit a single shot on target in the first half against Swansea despite making 11 attempts
- Of their Premier League wins this season, Chelsea have now won 39% of them by a single goal
