A penalty goal from Eden Hazard saved the day as Queens Park Rangers were beaten 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Oscar put the league leaders in front in the first half with a sublime finish before Charlie Austin equalised after the break.
15 minutes from the end, Eden Hazard was brought down inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot, and the Belgian converted to seal the win for the Blues.
First half
Jose Mourinho made one change from the team that drew 1-1 to Manchester United last weekend, with Diego Costa replacing Didier Drogba in the starting line-up.
The striker was quick to put his mark on the match and was involved in a couple of decent build-ups to early on. Both Branislav Ivanovic and Oscar were however not accurate enough to score the opener.
Just after the half hour mark there was a moment of brilliance. Cesc Fabregas combined stunningly with Diego Costa as he cut across in front the QPR defence and found Oscar coming inside from his position from the right.
With a brilliant strike with the outside of his boot, Oscar curled the ball beautifully into the far corner to put Chelsea in front.
There were a lot of half-chances and corners in the first half but we only got the one goal.
Second half
QPR worked hard throughout the game and was rewarded, perhaps a little fortunately, when Leroy Fer fired from range in the 62nd minute.
The ball took a deflection off Charlie Austin’s back-heel, which caught Thibaut Courtois off guard, and the ball crossed the line for 1-1.
The goal seemed to inspire the visitors, but they failed to test Courtois properly.
Tight matches need great players to find a winning goal, and that is exactly what we have in Hazard.
Eduardo Vargas fouled Hazard inside the area with 15 minutes left on the clock, and the scene was set for another win for the Blues.
Mourinho was happy with the three points but admitted that the play wasn’t the best we’ve seen from his side so far this season. He did however highlight Oscar’s performance.
My team didn’t play well or well enough or so well as I was expecting. I was expecting more. For 90 minutes I think he (Oscar) was our best player. Not for the goal, but for the dynamic, for the intensity, for the transitions. He was always sharp.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Matic, Fabregas; Willian (Drogba 63), Oscar, Hazard (Ramires 90); Diego Costa (Schurrle 77).
ChelseaTalk