Chelsea maintained their awesome progress, winning a 10th successive Premier League game with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday that saw them forge six points clear at the top of the table.
Cesc Fabregas scored the game's only goal after a fine counter-attack five minutes before halftime to provide an entirely predictable outcome to the tussle between the league's top and bottom clubs.
There had not been much between the teams until Chelsea, who had to leave the injured Eden Hazard at home, struck with a fast break that ended with Fabregas netting sharply after a neat one-two with Willian.
The Brazilian Willian, who replaced Hazard, saw a deflected shot hit the bar after the break as Chelsea largely dominated and left David Moyes' side still a point adrift at the foot of the table.