Chelsea will be top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day in the wake of beating Stoke 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium.
Chelsea was in front with only two minutes on the time at the Britannia Stadium on Monday night when John Terry rose most elevated to compel home a Cesc Fabregas corner.
Stoke debilitated quickly in the second period yet Fabregas fixed triumph for the guests with 13 minutes left.
The result implies Jose Mourinho's men pull three points clear of Manchester City.
Stoke had effectively doled out beatings to Arsenal and Man City this season, however were managed a significant blow inside two minutes as Terry gave Chelsea the lead.
Fabregas whipped a risky corner from the directly into the risk range and the Chelsea captain strongly out-bounced his marker Geoff Cameron to power a header into the net.
Terry has now scored 35 top-flight objectives and is Chelsea's joint tenth top scorer in the historical backdrop of the Premier League.
The early objective quieted the home swarm as the guests certainly stroked the ball around midfield, with Eden Hazard bringing about genuine issues on the left flank.
Phil Bardsley took matters into his own hands on 20 minutes and got a booking for a wild rush on Hazard by the touchline that obviously angered Chelsea manager Mourinho on the sidelines.
The booking appeared to start the hosts into life and Steven N'zonzi constrained Thibaut Courtois into a recovery after his 20-yard shot took a diversion.
Diego Costa constantly looked a risk on the break for Chelsea and he ought to have multiplied the lead on 31 minutes when sent clear by Nemanja Matic, however he dragged his shot wide of the upright.
Substitute Charlie Adam infused a lot of life into the Stoke midfield when he was presented in the second half and he missed an extraordinary opportunity to level the amusement on 71 minutes.
It was a missed risk that demonstrated excessive for the hosts as Fabregas wrapped up the points on 77 minutes.
The splendid Hazard chose the previous Barcelona man with a fine pass inside the region and two touches later, the ball was in the net. It might not have been Fabregas' most clinical strike.
Costa ought to have got his name on the scoresheet when he was discharged by Andre Schurrle with six minutes left yet Begovic did well to deny the striker.
The night was soured somewhat for the association pioneers when Hazard must be supplanted in harm time by Kurt Zouma in the wake of agony a kick on his heel from Jon Walters, yet Chelsea saw the employment through no sweat.
Man of the Match: Matic
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