[Player Ratings] Swansea 0-1 Chelsea: Matic + Ba Inspire Blues

Chelsea kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a narrow 1-0 win over 10 man Swansea City.

Demba Ba grabbed his second match-winning goal in the space of five days, latching onto Nemanja Matic’s fine long ball before firing beyond Michel Vorm. The only goal of the game took 68 minutes to arrive with Chelsea struggling to break down the stubborn but stylish 10 men of Swansea.

Chico Flores was dismissed inside 16 minutes at the Liberty Stadium for two successive yellow cards in just two minutes.

The hard-fought win ensured Chelsea reduced the gap between themselves and top of the table Liverpool to just two points after the Merseysiders beat Manchester City 3-2 earlier on Sunday.

The pair are the only teams to have their title hopes in their own hands and the Anfield meeting between the two on 27th April is looking more and more a title showdown.

Player Ratings

Cech- 7- made some vital saves in the first half to keep it level, flicking over Bony’s header and turning away Dyer’s long-range shot which had deflected off Azpilicueta.

Azpilicueta- 6- a solid game defensively and made some lung-busting runs up the left flank to support the attack.

Terry- 7- wasn’t pretty, but led his team to a very important victory in the title race. Reliable as ever.

Cahill- 7- dominant in the air and composed on the deck.

Ivanovic- 6- not his best game but didn’t let anyone down. Should have done better with a header from a corner.

Matic- 8- one of Chelsea’s best players, the Serbian bossed the middle of the park. His size and strength make him such an imposing figure and his range of passing was exemplified by his assist for Ba’s goal. Man of the Match.

Ramires- 6- an energetic but ineffectual half came to an end at half-time as Mourinho replaced the Brazilian with Oscar.

Salah- 7- a rare start for Chelsea’s January signing. The winger impressed in place of the injured Hazard but was let down by his final touch on a few occasions.

Schurrle- 5- failed to make his mark in the game before his afternoon came to an abrupt end. Subbed at half-time for Eto’o.

Willian- 7- amazing to think that the Brazilian had more first-team starts (29) than the other three attacking players (Ba, 4; Schurrle, 20; Salah, 2). But that’s testament to how well he’s adapted to the Premier League. Pace and balance going forward with the work rate required of a Mourinho first-team player.

Ba- 7- rewarded with a starting place for his Champions League heroics in mid-week. Worked hard and took his goal very well.

Subs

Oscar- 6- positive impact when he came on and almost found the net.

Eto’o- 6- introduced at half-time as to form a two-pronged attack. Did okay but will kick himself for missing two excellent scoring opportunities.

Mikel- 5- came on for Ba with 11 minutes to go. Took a booking on the chin and did okay in helping close out the win.

Who was your Man of the Match against Swansea?…Are you annoyed Chelsea couldn’t win by more with Swansea down to 10 for so long?…How important is this win in Premier League title race?…With the Champions League semi-final approaching, should the Blues focus on league or cup?…Does Mourinho’s team have the legs to go all the way in both competitions?…please leave your comments below…