Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points with a 2-0 victory over Stoke City this evening.

John Terry opened the scoring for the visitors after less than two minutes, beating his marker to a Cesc Fabregas corner before planting his header home.

Fabregas got his own name on the scoresheet to cap off the victory 12 minutes from time, scuffing an effort into the corner having been found by Eden Hazard.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at a full-blooded 90 minutes at the Britannia Stadium.

Match statistics

STOKE
Shots: 13
On target: 2
Possession: 51%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 11

CHELSEA
Shots: 15
On target: 6
Possession: 49%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 4

Was the result fair?

It was by no means a walk in the park for Chelsea tonight, but they deserve their victory, and the two-goal winning margin is probably about right too. The early goal was crucial in terms of taming a fired-up Stoke side in the opening exchanges, but the hosts soon began to build a bit of momentum and get the crowd behind them.

If there is one team that can stand up to Stoke physically, it is probably Chelsea, and that was put to the test tonight. There was no quarter given or asked from either side, and the visitors' victory had more to do with brawn than beauty. It was as intriguing a game as we'd hoped for, even if it wasn't the best in terms of quality on the ball.

The possession stats show that Chelsea certainly didn't have things all their own way this evening, but the reason they deserve the three points is that they created by far the better chances. In addition to the two goals, Diego Costa could have easily notched a brace on another day, while Stoke only had two shots on target throughout.

Stoke's performance

Things could not have started much worse for Stoke, who found themselves trailing the league leaders inside two minutes. It was the manner of the goal that will upset Mark Hughes as much as the timing of it, with Terry winning a header inside the box despite a number of Stoke players being back there to defend the corner.

They responded well, however, and their physical style of play upset Chelsea's rhythm at times, even though the visitors gave as good as they got. While they were able to stop Chelsea playing to an extent, Stoke did find it difficult to get anything substantial going forward themselves, with both of their shots on target being ones Thibaut Courtois would have expected to save.

The hosts showed plenty of spirit and there are certainly positives to take from this defeat. They didn't roll over against the title favourites, despite that early goal, holding their own for much of the match. It is now just one win in six, however, and an improvement in results at least is needed if they are to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.

Chelsea's performance

Perhaps the best thing about this Chelsea side, and the thing that marks them out as clear favourites for the title in the minds of many people, is that they are capable of winning in a variety of different ways. This was not a match for the likes of Hazard, Fabregas and Willian to show their silky skills, but one for Nemanja Matic, Costa and Terry to battle their way to victory.

Each and every one of their players were up for the fight and didn't take a backward step in a very physical encounter that threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions. Chelsea were in control for the majority of the match, but they had to be patient and resilient against a spirited Stoke outfit.

Fabregas's goal came at a perfect time for them as the hosts were beginning to apply some pressure in their search for an equaliser, and that killed the game off once and for all. We know Jose Mourinho's side possess quality in abundance, but this match - coupled with the fact that Manchester City drew level on points with them at the weekend - also shows that they have plenty of character.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Nemanja Matic: It is often the likes of Fabregas, Hazard and Costa who grab the headlines, but it is fair to say that Matic has come to the fore as one of Chelsea's most important players. He was magnificent again in the middle of the park today, breaking up attack after attack, including one fabulous challenge in the first half that led to a great opening for Costa. John Obi Mikel was also superb alongside him, but Matic was the pick of the bunch tonight.

Biggest gaffe

Chelsea had a good chance to go in search of a second goal in the first half when they broke quickly from a corner. They had a four-on-one situation breaking free, but referee Neil Swarbrick inadvertently got in the way of Hazard's pass, intercepting it and halting an attack that would have surely ended in a goal.

Referee performance

That unfortunate incident aside, Swarbrick had a very physical game to handle tonight, but he did it well. His biggest decision was whether or not to send Phil Bardsley off for a dreadful challenge on Hazard in the first half, but he opted for just a yellow instead.

What next?

Stoke: Stoke face a trip to Merseyside on Boxing Day as they face Everton at Goodison Park.

Chelsea: Chelsea, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their perfect home league record this season when they host West Ham United in a London derby at Stamford Bridge.