Perfect 10 as Chelsea break from the pack

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1: Chelsea’s 10th successive win was predictable in a game against the Premier League’s bottom club, but few anticipated that Antonio Conte’s team would experience such a nervous 90 minutes before retaining the leadership.

The outcome should not have been in doubt once Chelsea broke Sunderland’s stubborn resistance five minute from the interval with a well-crafted goal from Cesc Fabregas because, even before the game, the odds were stacked in the London club’s favour.

Instead, Sunderland almost claimed an equaliser at the start of the second-half and, after emerging from a brief Chelsea onslaught, showed admirable spirit to pin back Conte’s team in the closing stages which featured a remarkable save by Thibaut Courtois to preserve the three points.