Chelsea 1 Stoke City 0: match report
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Chelsea and Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday Sept 22, 2012.
Chelsea moved three points clear at the top of the table after Ashley Cole’s close-range finish five minutes from the end finally sunk battling Stoke City. It was a far from convincing performance by Roberto Di Matteo’s side but their sheer persistence was just enough to tame a Stoke side who had drawn all four previous league matches this season.
John Terry and Frank Lampard were on the home substitutes’ bench as Chelsea made a brisk start to attempting to put their Champions League slip-up behind them.