Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0: Antonio Conte one win off Premier League title as Stamford Bridge win relegates Boro

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James Olley8 May 2017

Chelsea are just one victory away from claiming the Premier League title after condemning Middlesbrough to relegation with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues will be crowned champions on Friday night if they beat West Brom at the Hawthorns after goals from Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic ensured the visitors will play in the Championship next season following just a solitary season in the top flight.

Costa scored his 20th League goal of the season in the 23rd minute – and equalled his best tally in a single season at the club in the process – courtesy of a sublime pass from Cesc Fabregas, who has now become the first player in history to notch 10 assists in six different Premier League seasons.

Alonso added a second in the 34th minute before Matic fired home a third with 25 minutes remaining in what proved a nerveless display from kick-off.

Chelsea supporters had filed into the ground with a sense of relaxed expectation after Tottenham’s defeat at West Ham last Friday and Conte ensured that confidence did not transmit to complacency on the pitch.

The only surprise was how long it took the Blues to score. Alonso struck the crossbar after 69 seconds with a back-post run found by a clever crossfield pass which quickly became a feature of the first half.

Fabregas was the provider on that occasion and many after, displaying his array of passing to telling effect, seizing his opportunity in place of Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year N’Golo Kante - the only change to Chelsea’s starting line-up.

The pair combined after seven minutes once again but Alonso this time elected to cross from another dangerous position. Middlesbrough were able to scramble it clear but already their defending had a degree of desperation about it.

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They were powerless when Eden Hazard pulled the ball back to Fabregas in a central position just inside the box a few minutes later. The Spaniard had time to pick his spot but he steered a sidefooted effort well off target.

Conte held his hands behind his head in frustration and he was beating the turf after Chelsea’s next meaningful attack, as Costa was just unable to meet Hazard’s ball across the six-yard box under pressure from George Friend.

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The pressure inevitably told. Fabregas found another of those diagonals.

Fabio tried to intervene but could not divert the ball away from Costa, who converted coolly through Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s legs.

Chelsea swarmed all over their opponents in an attempt to kill the game and Cesar Azpiicueta turned provider 11 minutes later, finding Alonso at the back post yet again.

This time, he drilled a low shot while Guzan could only turn into his own net.

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The Blues picked up where they left off shortly after the restart. This time, they only took 39 seconds to hit the woodwork, as Pedro unleashed a fierce effort from outside the box which clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Alonso and Gary Cahill both went close as Middlesbrough struggled to get out of their own half. They required a huge slice of luck in avoiding further behind in the 55th-minute as Calum Chambers stretched to block a long-range Fabregas volley, only to wrongfoot Guzan behind him. The ball drifted just wide of his left-hand post.

Chelsea’s third goal duly arrived ten minutes later as Fabregas produced an impudent flick to find Matic in the box and he finished powerfully from close range.

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Moses almost added a fourth as Chelsea were so comfortable, Eden Hazard was afforded a rest for the final 18 minutes and even outgoing captain John Terry featured for the last six. He won’t have long to wait to lift the Premier League trophy for the fifth time.

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