A poacher's goal for Diego Costa from a corner was enough for an unimpressive Chelsea to edge past Middlesbrough and climb to the top of the Premier League.
Chelsea entered this fixture at the Riverside knowing that a win would lift them to the league summit, due to Liverpool's draw with Southampton on Saturday. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, hoped to put distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Chelsea plays with the same lineup in 5 successive matches for the first time in their history.! #CFC #MIDCHE pic.twitter.com/SmFkWxkoCw
Middlesbrough would have to score their first goal against Chelsea in ten years to do so, and the Blues had not conceded since their 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in September.
Eden Hazard was left limping after an attack which ended in a heavy tackle from Adam Clayton, which earned the Boro midfielder an early yellow card. However, the early promise had been shown by the Teesiders, mostly through Adama Traore's express pace.
The home side were keeping a sluggishChelsea at arm's length for the first twenty-five minutes, looking to deploy Gaston Ramirez and Traore at any opportunity and maintaining defensive structure.
However, it was Pedro who earned the first clear-cut opportunity, firing a shot which was narrowly tipped over by a soaring Victor Valdes.The goalkeeper had produced a save of the very finest quality, but Chelsea looked to have woken up and the pressure started to build.
Boro 0 Chelsea 1 on 40 minutes #MIDCHE pic.twitter.com/tnXt9EcNKV
The Blues began to press for a goal before half time, and found it through the previously anonymous Diego Costa.A swirling cross from a corner evaded the whole Middlesbrough defence and was pounced upon by the grateful Spaniard, whodrove the ball home.
Middlesbrough held their own until half-time, and Aitor Karanka will have been relatively happy with their first-half performance.
One issue to correct had to be the space afforded to Victor Moses on the right flank, but the second half began with the Nigerian in acres of it again. A teasing cross and incisive run showed Boro the price they could pay for leaving him alone.
Ramirez whipped a shot narrowly over the bar to give his side something to hang onto, and Traore ushered in a spell of pressure with a blocked shot. On the other hand, Costa supplied Pedro only for the Barcelona graduate to watch a strike rebound off the crossbar.
Chelsea hit the woodwork! A superb pass by David Luiz is headed down to Pedro by Diego Costa. The strike is sweet but cannons back. #MIDCHE
Chelsea had controlled the play from the start of the second half, not allowing Boro a sniff. However,N'Golo Kante surprisinglygave the ball away to Traore. The pacy wingerswiped a shot miles over the bar. Chelsea had only to hold on to their 1-0 lead for fifteen minutes to go top.
The home side sensed an opportunity to snatch a draw with ten minutes remaining. A Negredo shot was pushed away from the right-hand corner by Thibaut Courtois.
David Luiz lined up a 'knuckleball' free kick but smashed it well over the bar, leaving Boro five minutes of normal time to find an equaliser. Injury time came without Middlesbrough testing Courtois.
A wasted pass by Barragan essentially brought an end to proceedings, putting Chelsea top of the Premier League by a point. The win was their sixth on the trot without conceding a goal.
What an incredible record from Chelsea! #conteisagenius ��� pic.twitter.com/V3ZrToskTZ