FULL-TIME, and Chelsea have really played like European champions here as they take a very good 4-0 win. They did have Jon Walters to thank for two headed own goals, and were perhaps slightly fortunate to be awarded a penalty that Frank Lampard converted, but the fourth by Eden Hazard was an absolute screamer. The Blues really picked it up in the second half and could have had many more, but for Asmir Begovic in Stoke’s goal, who made a string of superb saves. The Potters meanwhile had a few chances of their own, but in truth could not quite string together enough possession to have a sustained impact.
90' +1
Three minutes added on, and they can't end soon enough for Walters.
90'
Walters misses! He hammers the ball, it hits the top of the bar and goes over. What a shocker that man has had.
89'
Penalty Stoke! It's a clumsy challenge from John Terry on Jon Walters, and he clips the Potters man's ankles.
88'
This game is really starting to wind down now, we're very close to the end.
86'
M. Kightly enters the game and replaces M. Etherington.
David Luiz tries to hold the ball up in Stoke's half, but in a contest with Huth, there was only likely to be one winner: the Potters man.
84'
Chelsea are continuing to come forward, with a cross flashing across Stoke's area with Ivanovic and Terry in dangerous positions but unable to convert.
83'
Paulo Ferreira enters the game and replaces César Azpilicueta.
81'
Just like that, the captain's armband goes on Terry from Lampard. He's back.
80'
J. Terry enters the game and replaces Mata.
Minute
Description
79'
C. Jerome enters the game and replaces K. Jones.
D. Whitehead enters the game and replaces C. Adam.
For the final 10 minutes, here is John Terry, who is coming on for Juan Mata in his first appearance for two months.
77'
Chelsea have been brilliant in this second half, and Torres nearly has a chance but there is Begovic to smother the ball well. Without the Bosnian, this could have been 7-0.
75'
Charlie Adam then tries something similar for Stoke but his effort goes harmlessly wide of Petr Cech.
73'
E. Hazard has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by Mata.
GOAL!!! WHAT A GOAL!!! Eden Hazard receives the ball, comes forward and hammers an unstoppable long-range shot past Begovic and into the top corner. You don't save those.
72'
Etherington ties Azpilicueta in knots on the left and sends in a cross that Kenwyne Jones should really do better with, but he can only squirt it at Cech for an easy save.
71'
Fernando Torres enters the game and replaces D. Ba.
Here comes Fernando Torres for the final 19 minutes or so, replacing Demba Ba up front in a straight swap.
68'
Great save Begovic! Lampard is denied again by the Bosnian goalkeeper with a reaction save. The Blues captain could have had a hat-trick, but for the Stoke goalkeeper.
65'
Penalty goal scored by F. Lampard for Chelsea!
GOAL!!! Frank Lampard steps up and thumps the ball down the middle into the roof of the net. 3-0 Chelsea, game over.
64'
Penalty Chelsea! The ball comes into the box to Mata after a great pass from the superb Lampard, and the Spaniard is taken out either by Shawcross or Huth.
63'
J. Walters is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOAL!!! Chelsea lead 2-0!! A corner comes in from the right, and a header is glanced home by Jon Walters, who scores his second own goal of the day. Nightmare for the Stoke man.
61'
Tony Pulis is jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof in his technical area. Chelsea are starting to keep the ball well, and the Potters' boss would like his side to pressure them a bit more.
58'
Penalty Stoke! No! It's not! Etherington is brought down in the box by Azpilicueta, and after a huge delay points to his right for offside. Correct decision, but it took a while to get there.
56'
David Luiz hasn't attacked much from the defence, but does so now as Chelsea break forward but is called back by the referee for a high foot on Shawcross.
54'
Wowzers. Steven N'Zonzi shoots from very far out, and his stinging drive is tipped over well by Petr Cech.
52'
Oh my, Chelsea could have been 2-0 up. Ba plays a great ball to Cole at the back post, and his shot is saved well by Begovic once again.
51'
Great ball there from Adam to Walters, but the goalscorer of the first half is just offside after a superb run.
50'
Now Hazard is on the deck after an untidy challenge from Robert Huth. It must be said, the Belgian went down a little too easily then.
48'
Charlie Adam is released down the left by Etherington, but his cross is not good enough. Shame there, as Stoke came forward well again.
46'
Already, we're back for the second half, which is kicked off by Chelsea.
45' +3
HALF-TIME, and it’s 1-0 to Chelsea after a first half that took a while to get going. When the chances did come, the best fell to the away side, who saw Frank Lampard and Demba Ba denied brilliantly by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. However, Kenwyne Jones saw a shot go just wide after a one-on-one with Petr Cech, so there are definitely encouraging signs for the Potters, who have defended superbly and worked very hard in front of their vocal home faithful. Unfortunately, that late own goal by Jon Walters will not help their cause, but they still have hope of getting a positive result here.
45' +1
J. Walters is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOAL!! Chelsea lead! A cross comes in from the right towards Juan Mata, but Jon Walters thunders his defensive header past Begovic and scores an unfortunate own goal. What a shame for the Potters.
45'
Two minutes are to be added on here.
44'
Geoff Cameron is causing a few problems on Stoke's right, as he also takes the long throw-ins for the Potters with Rory Delap not in the team.
41'
Glenn Whelan then hits a good half-volley from outside the box, but Cech clutches the ball to his chest with ease.
40'
We've gone from sublime to ridiculous in a matter of seconds here, as Ashley Cole hits a shot from outside the box that goes well over, to the delight of the Stoke fans.
39'
A. Wilkinson gets yellow.
Finally we have a booking, with Andy Wilkinson cautioned for shoving Eden Hazard over after the Belgian nearly skins the Stoke man down the home side's left.
37'
The away side have turned up the heat here, as they push forward again and again but are unable to fashion another clear opening.
34'
Chance Chelsea! The ball is played forward long by Lampard, who picks out Demba Ba on his own. However, the Blues' new signing sees his shot saved well by Begovic, before Wilkinson throws himself in the way of the rebound to prevent Ramires scoring. Superb defensive work.
33'
Chelsea come forward again, but Wilkinson has been solid as a rock in the defence as Stoke clear once again. Mata, Hazard and Ba have been very well shackled by the Potters so far.
30'
Stoke have certainly been physical this afternoon and it's working well, with Chelsea unable to get any real momentum. Wilkinson is the latest to break up the play, flying over the top of Hazard to try and win a high ball he got nowhere near.
28'
Ramires is not a happy boy after a heavy challenge with Charlie Adam. He'll be OK to continue, but was struggling slightly after that one.
26'
Begovic is back in the action again, although this time he catches a very simple long ball on the bounce with Demba Ba lurking nearby.
24'
Great save from Begovic! After some great passing from Chelsea, Frank Lampard is put through one-on-one but the Bosnian makes a superb stop with his feet.
21'
Shame there for Stoke, who exert some good pressure but then see Glenn Whelan screw his shot well wide from outside the box. The Potters look really confident here, and Eden Hazard has been dealt with well so far by their defenders.
20'
Cracking cross there from Charlie Adam, and Branislav Ivanovic has to head the ball away for another corner.
18'
Steven N'Zonzi has stayed forward from a corner and finds himself in enough space to have a dinked backward header saved acrobatically by Petr Cech. The Potters look pretty good so far, Chelsea haven't quite got into gear just yet.
15'
Space opens up for Mata on the right of the penalty area, but his cross goes straight to Asmir Begovic to collect and set Stoke away on a counterattack.
13'
Stoke have had a good spell here, but Matthew Etherington's cross from the left goes out of play with three of his team-mates in the penalty area.
10'
Ouch. The game is delayed as David Luiz takes a heavy knock in an aerial challenge from Jon Walters and is on the turf. He'll be OK, though.
9'
Cesar Azpilicueta is looking to overlap on the right, and he sends in a dangerous low cross that is kept out well.
8'
Chance! Andy Wilkinson's deflected shot makes its way to Kenwyne Jones who is through one-on-one, but his dinked shot goes inches wide. The Potters should have scored there.
5'
Great touch there from Eden Hazard, who flicks the ball over a Stoke player and comes forward, but his cross is dealt with well in the penalty area.
3'
Never fear David Luiz fans, he has not cut his flowing locks off. Maybe a slight trim, but nothing more.
2'
A defensive mistake from Glenn Whelan lets in Juan Mata, who finds the rampaging Ramires, but the Brazilian is tackled well by Ryan Shawcross and the ball is cleared.
1'
We’re off! Stoke get the first half going.
Good afternoon, and welcome to Goal.com’s LIVE! text commentary on this Premier League match between Stoke and Chelsea. My name is Chris Teale, and I’m delighted you could join me for this one.
Stoke have been quite inconsistent this season in the Premier League, winning six and losing four, but they find themselves in the top half of the table with a chance of having an impact on the race for the European places. Last time out, they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, and they have gone three matches without a win in all competitions since beating Liverpool on Boxing Day. However, with their vociferous supporters behind them at the Britannia Stadium, the Potters will be confident of making their home advantage count.
It had been going so well for Chelsea, as they won four of their five games in the month of December. However, the pressure is back on interim manager Rafael Benitez after the Blues lost 1-0 at home to QPR and were defeated 2-0 at home to Swansea in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final. The continued inclusion of striker Fernando Torres has intensified the criticism of Benitez, particularly with new signing Demba Ba looking dangerous when he has led the line.
How are those teams looking? Here’s Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson; Walters, Whelan, Nzonzi, Etherington; Adam; Jones. Subs: Sorensen, Whitehead, Upson, Kightly, Crouch, Shotton, Jerome.
Stoke make one change to their team as Matthew Etherington comes in for Cameron Jerome, with Kenwyne Jones continuing up front ahead of Peter Crouch. Meanwhile, Demba Ba leads the line in place of Fernando Torres for the Blues as they make four changes from the side that lost to Swansea during the week. Petr Cech returns in goal, while Frank Lampard and Ryan Bertrand come in for Gary Cahill and Oscar.
Here come the teams onto the pitch at the Britannia Stadium. We’re just minutes away from the start here.
Thank you very much for joining me this afternoon, as we saw Chelsea look very good in their 4-0 win over Stoke. Stick with Goal.com for all the reaction to this afternoon’s football and all the goings-on in the transfer window. For now, though, I’ve been Chris Teale, and I really appreciate your company.
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