April 12, 2015 18:30:38 UK
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho described his side’s fortunate 1-0 London derby win at QPR as an “important step” in their Premier League title bid.
The Blues failed to impose themselves on much of the game at Loftus Road as Chris Ramsey’s struggling R’s kept them at bay and went close to going in front with Charlie Ausdtin and Matty Phillips both testing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
However Eden Hazard teed up Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the area and he fired a low strike past QPR goalkeeper Robert Green in the 88th minute with their first shot on target to steal the maximum points.
We kept calm and tried to keep calm against a side who were very well organised defensively.
Jose Mourinho
The win stretches Chelsea’s lead at the top back to seven points and makes it 11 matches unbeaten with Mourinho targeting three wins and draw from their remaining seven games to secure the Blues’ first league title since 2010.
He said: “Our situation was positive. One point would be one less point we need but the reality is three points and it is one less match we need to win.
“It is an important step. The best quality was we controlled the game very well. QPR can score, have dangerous players and are very direct. We kept calm and tried to keep calm against a side who were very well organised defensively.
“During the season you always have these moments where you lose and win points at end of the game. We lost points at the end at Old Trafford and won points in last few minutes today.
“I always thought it was very important to keep a clean sheet because it was always going to be difficult to keep a clean sheet here.”
Chelsea are now 2.50 to win the title in 2015-16 having virtually sewn up this season’s league, while QPR, who are two points adrift of safety in the final relegation place, are 1.16 to drop into the Championship at the end of the season.
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