Lampard calls for patience

Chelsea 3 Stoke 0

The final scoreline may have looked comprehensive, but a 3-0 victory did not look likely for the first 30 minutes, during which Chelsea showed an understandable lack of composure and nervousness brought about by two successive defeats.

The first of those, at Crystal Palace last weekend, was apparently the end of Chelsea’s title challenge according to Jose Mourinho, who was still talking down their Premier League chances on Saturday evening despite moving back to the top of the table.