Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1: Diego Costa loves playing away, Ben Gibson is England class… and Middlesbrough need a little help from their Friend
Diego Costa netted the only goal of the game, here are the main talking points from the clash at the Riverside Stadium
CHELSEA moved to the top of the Premier League table after a 1-0 victory away at Middlesbrough today.
Diego Costa netted the only goal of the game as Chelsa fought out for a dogged three points at the Riverside Stadium.
Here are five things we learnt from the Blues' triumph on Teesside.
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1. Consistency is the key for Chelsea
Since the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in September, Antonio Conte has well and truly stuck to his tried and tested.
This was the fifth game in a row that the Italian had started with the same XI – the first time the Blues have ever done that in Premier League history.
And although club captain John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas might be sick of pulling the splinters out of their backsides, it looks like they’ll be seeing plenty more of the bench in the coming weeks.
After seeing off an early burst from Boro, the table-toppers dominated throughout and deservedly took home the points thanks to Diego Costa.
This was the sixth win in a row for Conte’s boys. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
2. Matic matters
If fate had transpired differently, then Nemanja Matic could have been lining up in the red of Middlesbrough this afternoon – and how the home side could have done with him.
The Serbian had a successful trial at the Riverside as a teenager back in 2009 while with Slovakian outfit FC Kosice. That stint was cut short when he received a first international call up, after which the two clubs could not agree a fee.
He went to Chelsea the following summer for the first of his two spells at Stamford Bridge.
After a disappointing campaign last season, the towering midfielder is back to his destroying best.
N’Golo Kante is getting all the plaudits alongside him, and he enjoyed another tireless display here, but his bruising partner was just as impressive.
He cut out a number of counter attacks before they got going and just simply gave the ball to his more skilful colleagues.
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3. Ben Gibson is surely on the verge of an England call up
The centre-half can count himself unfortunate to have missed out on Gareth Southgate’s squad last week after his recent impressive displays against Arsenal and Manchester City.
Despite the defeat, the 23-year-old showed he can hang with the best.
His side were under the cosh for long spells, but the stopper marshalled the backline well and produced a number of vital interceptions and tackles.
Captaining his home town club in the absence of Grant Leadbitter, you could see the pain and frustration when all his good work came undone moments before the break as he team-mates stood and watch Diego Costa react quickest to score.
4. Diego Costa is certainly a happy traveller at the moment
He reacted quickest to the defensive chaos inside the box on 41 minutes to stab home the opener this afternoon.
That was his seventh goal in his last seven away matches. And he prowled, poached and fought for a second all afternoon as he refused to give the Boro backline a moment’s peace.
He almost got himself an assist too just after the hour mark. A fantastic move saw David Luiz burst forward and float the ball towards the back for Costa. The forward unselfishly headed the ball back for the onrushing Pedro to crash a strike against the crossbar.
5. Boro need a Friend…. A George Friend
The popular full-back was out injured for the home side this afternoon and boy did they miss him.
After a shaky start to Premier League life the former Doncaster and Wolves man has just been starting to come into his own before this setback.
His replacement Fabio was making in his league debut for Boro and it was not a memorable one – and he will not be thanking his team-mate Gaston Ramirez.
The Uruguayan left Fabio completely exposed in the first half as Victor Moses tore at the Brazilian on several occasions.
Most of Chelsea’s joy was coming down that flank, and it was only a matter of time before boss Aitor Karanka had to change it.
Perhaps unlucky for the left-back, he was the man chosen for the hook midway through the second half as winger Stewart Downing replaced him.
One thing Karanka and the Boro faithful did learn is that they look a lot more solid unit with their long-serving stalwart Friend in the back four.