Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1
Costa 40
Middlesbrough are showing that they can be a match for anyone in the Premier League, yet for all the fight and will - which earned them draws at Arsenal and Manchester City - Aitor Karanka’s men were unable to get anything against a rampant Chelsea side, who moved top of the table following a win at the Riverside.
Diego Costa scored the only goal of the game, after the home side failed to deal with an in-swinging corner and the Spanish striker poked the ball home five minutes before half time.
Up until that point the hosts had kept Chelsea, who had scored 16 goals without reply in their last five games, at arm’s length, however the goal provided some comfort which Antonio Conte and his players were happy to accept.
To be fair to Boro they didn’t throw in the towel and the Blues were unable to replicate the types of performances which saw them score five past Everton last time out or four past Manchester United a couple of weeks earlier.
Like against City before the international break, Karanka’s side had a go in the second half however, not for the first time this season, they lacked some bite in the final third and were unable to create a clear-cut chance which could have altered the game.
“I can’t tell you I’m pleased with the result after we have lost the game but I am pleased with the attitude of my players,” said Karanka after the match.
“We are playing against a top-of-the-table team, so we knew it was going to be difficult. In the Premier League, any mistake is going to be punished,” he added.
Conte was also quick to praise Boro performance by saying: "We played a good game, against good opposition, and created many chances to score the second goal”.
“It's important to kill the game if you have chances because anything can happen from corners and crosses, but I am pleased."
The Italian has every right to be pleased at the moment, for his side now won six matches in a row since their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the end of September.
That was reflected by Chelsea’s team selection, as Conte named an unchanged side from the team which beat Everton 5-0 last time out.
In contrast Karanka made two changes from the side that draw at Manchester City before the international break. Gaston Ramirez returned from suspension to replace Stewart Downing.
Meanwhile left back Fabio made his first league start of the season due to an injury to George Friend.
The early exchanges played out as many would have expected, with Chelsea shading possession, but Boro were determined to at least make a game of it.
The hosts were compact and well-organised when they didn’t have the ball and the midfield trio of Martem De Roon, Adam Clayton and Adam Forshaw provided an effective shield in front of the back four.
They had an outlet in the raw Adama Traore, whose pace on the break caused Chelsea’s backline problems, however there were times when his decision making let him down in the final third.
For half an hour or so it was an even contest but the Chelsea of recent weeks are a force to be reckoned with.
A neat move on 31 minutes saw the lively Victor Moses, who has flourished in his new wing-back-role, cut the ball to Pedro but his effort was tipped over the bar by Victor Valdes.
The Boro keeper was called upon again moments later when he denied Marcos Alonso from close range, however it wasn’t long before the visitors moved ahead.
There was some controversy about the corner which was awarded when Moses appeared to slice a shot wide. However, referee Jonathan Moss deemed that ball had taken a deflection off a Boro player.
The subsequent corner hit Calum Chamber on the back and fell perfectly for Costa, who was the quickest to react, stabbing the ball past Valdes from close range.
Like against City a fortnight ago, Boro saw more of the ball after the break, yet they were unable to create a clear-cut chance.
With 12 minutes to go Alvaro Negredo, who was once again been isolated upfront for most of the afternoon, controlled Traore’s cut back and forced a save out of Thibaut Courtois.
With a sell-out crowd behind them, Boro pushed forward but Chelsea’s three-man defence stood firm.
The visitors had chances to put the game to bed but Pedro's effort clattered the cross bar, before Valdes made another instinctive save to keep out Alonso’s low drive.
Karanka introduced Viktor Fischer and Grant Leadbitter late on but 1-0 it stayed.
Player Ratings
Victor Valdes 7- Made a couple of impressive saves in the first half, as when Chelsea began to pile on some pressure.
Antonio Barragan 6- Got into some good attacking positions from right back but was sometimes caught out when Eden Hazard and Marcos Alonso doubled up on him.
Ben Gibson 7- Another impressive display from the English centre-half who won tackles and made crucial interceptions all afternoon.
Calum Chambers 6- Decent afternoon against the lively Costa but almost got caught out trying to pass ball out from the back.
Fabio 5- Played his first 90 minutes since the start of the season and it showed at times. Struggled to get to grips with pace of Victor Moses in the first half.
Marten De Roon 7- Added steel to Boro’s midfield, as he won the ball back on numerous times in the first half.
Adam Clayton 6.5- Protected the back four effectively but was withdrawn in the second half as Boro chased for an equaliser.
Adam Forshaw 7- Gave Boro energy in the middle of the park and was quick to close the ball down when Chelsea were in their own half.
Adama Traore 6- Provided an outlet on the break but still lacks an end product in the final third.
Gaston Ramirez 6- Was unable to express himself out on the left-hand side. Made a couple of runs forward but couldn’t create anything.
Alvaro Negredo 5- Had little support upfront and was isolated for most of the game. Had one decent effort which Thibaut Courtois saved.
Subs
Stewart Downing 6- Came on with 20 minutes to go, delivered a couple of good crosses into the box.
Viktor Fischer 5- Came on with 17 minutes to go but was unable create anything in the closing stages.
Grant Leadbitter – Came on with two minutes to go, not enough time to give a fair rating.
My Boro Man Of The Match: Ben Gibson
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