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Stamford Bridge relieved as Costa strikes down Canaries

Chelsea 1-0 Norwich City
by Amar Azam
at Stamford Bridge

IT HAS been a chastening experience thus far for Jose Mourinho and his title-winners. This time last season, they were well on their way to one of the most comprehensive Premier League wins in recent history.

Instead, they’ve seen their title aspirations drift away after just three wins in the 12 matches ahead of their match against Norwich City.

A solitary goal in the second half from Diego Costa in this much-welcomed victory was enough to edge past the team managed by Alex Neil.

The Stamford Bridge faithful let out a collective sigh of relief at the final whistle as they registered their first league win since mid-October.

Mourinho, however, took the opportunity to start ruling his team out of the title race. At the very least, this sort of talk serves to lift the pressure off his players so that they can recover confidence. They are 14 points behind surprise leaders Leicester City.

“The fourth position is not an impossible mission,” quipped the Chelsea boss. “If you ask me about the title I would say: impossible mission.

“Maybe Tom Cruise can do it for us but it’s complicated.”

Chelsea supporters can take heart from much-improved performance from their team. Last season’s player of the season Eden Hazard looks more the player that won plaudits as his side romped to the title. The midfield looked more assured also, but will be severely tested when they travel to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

Goal-scoring and lack of opportunities remains a concern. Chelsea have scored just 17 goals all season, and it showed as they struggled to find their way beyond a tough Norwich back-line.

Neil bemoaned the officiating decisions when Robbie Brady looked to have been fouled in the penalty area by Chelsea’s Willian with the result even.

“I think it is a key moment for both teams,” said the Scot. “It is one of those where on quite a few occasions this season we have not been getting the decisions our way.

“There has been a disallowed goal, a few penalty decisions which have been blatant that we have not got as well and I felt after 30 minutes of this game we should have had a penalty.”

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