There's a truism in football that the teams which win titles are those who can play badly and still grind out a result. Leicester shackled Chelsea to great effect in the first half while causing problems with quick, direct attacks on the break. It was a similar performance to the one which saw Tony Pulis claim a 1-0 away victory for his Crystal Palace side against the Blues at an important stage of last season and with David Nugent continuing to find himself in good positions, the home fans at Stamford Bridge would've had good reason for feeling concerned. With Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa pulling the strings, Chelsea looked a different, more adaptable side in the second half, making good on Mourinho's promise to make his side more proficient at breaking down defences this time around. Persistence may have been the key, but where Chelsea visibly ran out of ideas when things weren't going their way last season, this time they clung on, varying the tempo and direction of their attacks until finding a way through. The goal deflated Leicester and chances started appearing with greater regularity for the home side, with Eden Hazard finally adding the crucial second with a trademark run before claiming the crucial second with a deflected strike past Kaspar Schmeichel. It may not have been a vintage Chelsea performance for much of the game, but did feel like an important one, with the team proving to themselves that with time and determination, the tools are there for them to break down the defensive walls which blocked their road to the title last season. What did you think of the game? Are the omens positive for Chelsea's title bid? Will Leicester City survive their return to the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below!
28-year old English writer with a borderline obsessive passion for films, videogames, Chelsea FC, incomprehensible words and indefensible puns. Follow me on Twitter if you like infrequent outbursts of absolute drivel.
