Chelsea top after Costa’s winner at Boro
Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1
Diego Costa’s 10th goal of the season took Chelsea to the top of the Premier League.
Antonio Conte’s side, who have now won six consecutive league matches without conceding a goal, were deserved winners at the Riverside Stadium, where Pedro hit the bar.
Costa struck five minutes before half-time, reacting quickest to fire home from close range after Middlesbrough had failed to deal with Eden Hazard’s left-wing corner.
Boro keeper Victor Valdes had earlier produced a brilliant save to deny Pedro.
Victor Moses pulled the ball back from the right after being found by Hazard, and Pedro’s first-time shot was tipped over by his former Barcelona team-mate.
Valdes was unable to rescue his team when Costa pounced after hesitation in the Boro defence, but he did manage to keep out a low shot from Marcos Alonso in the opening minute of the second half.
Gaston Ramirez and Adama Traore wasted rare chances for the hosts by blasting over.
Chelsea were comfortable, though, and almost doubled their lead when Pedro fired against the woodwork from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by Costa’s neat header.
When Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois was finally called into action he dived to his left to push away Álvaro Negredo’s shot.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Ivanovic 89), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Chalobah 79), Costa, Hazard (Oscar 90).
Subs not used: Begovic, Terry, Fabregas, Batshuayi.
