Stoke's first defeat of the season, Chelsea stay unbeaten thanks to Ashley Cole. Thank you very much for joining me this afternoon for our LIVE! text commentary. I've been Chris Teale, and I'll see you all soon.
90' +5
FULL TIME, and it’s Chelsea who take all three points today thanks to a goal from Ashley Cole. It took until the 84th minute for the deadlock to be broken after some superb defending from Stoke kept the Blues at bay. Not the greatest game in the world, truth be told, and there were few clear chances and only flashes of brilliance from Eden Hazard and Oscar. But, it’s Chelsea who take the win, and maintain their unbeaten start in the Premier League.
90' +2
David Luiz gets yellow.
90' +1
Handbags at dawn there between players from both sides. This game has passed with little incident, so it would be a shame to have this rubbish so late on. Thankfully, Michael Oliver rides in to save the day.
89'
J. Terry enters the game and replaces Mata.
86'
Victor Moses looks seriously quick out there, and it takes a superb last-ditch tackle from Matt Etherington to stop him going all the way.
85'
A. Cole has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by Mata.
GOAL!!! It's 1-0 Chelsea! Stoke finally are broken down! The move is started and finished by Ashley Cole, who makes a lung-busting run into the box before tapping home. It's his first goal in the Premier League since 2010, and what a time to get it.
81'
F. Lampard enters the game and replaces M. Obi.
78'
Kenwyne Jones manages to keep a high ball in and feeds Mr. Charles Adam. Unfortunately, the Scot drags his shot wide, but it was a good chance for Stoke.
76'
John Obi Mikel breaks after a superb one-two with Torres, but realistically he was never going to do anything with that. It deflects upwards, into Begovic's arms.
Minute
Description
75'
K. Jones enters the game and replaces P. Crouch.
72'
M. Etherington enters the game and replaces M. Kightly.
69'
Oh, Oscar, Beautiful turn, then he rifles a shot just wide. What an effort, arguably Chelsea's best today.
66'
Oscar almost has a goal there, as his shot is deflected by a Stoke foot and nearly wrong-foots Begovic. However, the big Bosnian recovers, and clutches the ball to his chest.
64'
M. Owen enters the game and replaces C. Adam.
Here he is! It's little Mikey Owen! How very exciting. Show us what you've got, Michael.
61'
V. Moses enters the game and replaces E. Hazard.
On comes Victor Moses for his Stamford Bridge debut, in place of Eden Hazard, who has been made to look fairly ordinary by a stout Stoke defence.
60'
All of a sudden, this game is rubbish. Chelsea seem allergic to shooting, then Stoke go up the other end and send a shot miles wide of the target through Michael Kightly.
53'
That was a cracking ball in, but Crouch can't quite get his long leg on it. A bit quiet so far, that was the first real chance. Now, there's one question on everyone's lips: When will Michael be on?
50'
Oscar gets yellow.
46'
Oh, well just like that we're back for the second half. It's still 0-0, as neither side could score during the half-time kickabout in the changing rooms.
45' +1
HALF TIME, and it’s 0-0 in what some would call a fascinatingly poised game. There have been few clear chances, with the best falling to Stoke’s Jonathan Walters, who saw a header cannon off the crossbar. Chelsea have had more of the ball, but they can’t get past a wall of red and white, so will need to be more incisive in the second half, otherwise the Potters will fancy taking a point or even three here.
44'
Ashley, come on. Why shoot from there? He does, and it goes wide.
38'
David Luiz has wonderful hair, but obviously left his shooting boots in the dressing room. He's open in the penalty area, aims a shot for the top corner of the net, but reaches the top corner of the stand.
36'
Blimey, that was a good strike from Marc Wilson from 30 yards out, but it's straight at Cech and he catches it comfortably, like a child catching a beach ball on a summer holiday.
31'
Was that a shot or cross? Hazard breaks into the penalty area, then sends in a low ball to precisely nobody and it goes out.
30'
It's Stoke's turn to yell for a penalty, as Crouch thinks he's been manhandled by Ivanovic. Again, nothing doing.
25'
Golden chance for Torres, as a lobbed ball is played to him by Mata in the area. However, he can't quite get it down in time, and Asmir Begovic is all over him like a rash to snuff out the goal threat.
23'
C. Adam gets yellow.
22'
Chelsea shout for a penalty, as Ivanovic thinks he's been brought down unfairly. Referee Michael Oliver says no, and the Blues are furious.
18'
Chance for Stoke! The free kick comes into the box, and Jonathan Walters nips in front of Petr Cech. But, his header cannons back off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. That could so easily have been 1-0 Stoke.
17'
Some very pretty intricate passing from Chelsea results in Ashley Cole of all people ballooning a shot very wide of the post. It wasn't the best, but was a chance of sorts nonetheless.
15'
Oscar tries an outrageous flick on the edge of the box to try and find Torres' run, and it nearly comes off. Nearly.
12'
The camera has just panned to JT and Lamps sitting on the bench next to each other, like a pair of schoolchildren sitting on the bus together. There's not too much going on right now, I hope it isn't too obvious.
6'
It's another cracking corner from Juan Mata, and it finds the head of Fernando Torres. Alas, he can't keep his header down, and it sails into the crowd.
4'
Eden Hazard has started on the right, and is already looking, well, hazardous, as he marauds forward. Thankfully, Stoke manage to clear their lines, but it might be a long afternoon for their defence.
2'
Chelsea have had two corners already, but neither of them have come to anything and are cleared.
1'
We're off! Chelsea kick off the first half.
Good afternoon, and welcome to Goal.com’s LIVE! text commentary on this Premier League game between Chelsea and Stoke. My name is Chris Teale, and it’s my pleasure to be taking you through what should be an enthralling and interesting game. Should.
Well, the Blues have started like a train in the Premier League, and are unbeaten on 10 pointd after four games. However, they came unstuck during the week against Juventus in the Champions League during the week, so manager Roberto di Matteo will be hoping for a reaction today.
Meanwhile, Stoke have drawn all four of their games in the Premier League, and lost in the Capital One Cup to Swindon Town. They could do with a positive result today, although with Chelsea looking dangerous, it might be a struggle today.
The teams are in, so let’s start with Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Torres.
And, Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Kightly, Whelan, Adam, N'Zonzi; Walters, Crouch.
Well, after impressing in mid-week, Oscar has been awarded the start in the midfield after recovering from a knock, while John Terry and Frank Lampard both get today to have a rest. Andy Wilkinson is suspended for Stoke, and is replaced by Geoff Cameron.
My oh my we're so close to kick-off. The excitement in the air is palpable. And I've got a cup of tea next to me, what could be better? Biscuits with it, to be honest. Kick-off five minutes away.
Don't worry everybody, as the teams come out the tunnel, I've found biscuits. Even better, they're chocolate digestives.
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