Premier League
Burnley1Chelsea2

Burnley 1-2 Chelsea

Victor Moses
Victor Moses fourth goal of the season proved decisive for Chelsea against Burnley

Chelsea maintained their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at European hopefuls Burnley.

Kevin Long's own goal set Antonio Conte's men on their way in the first half, but Ashley Barnes deflected Johann Berg Gudmundsson's wayward shot to equalise for Burnley at Turf Moor.

Victor Moses' right-footed shot into the bottom corner proved decisive and ensured the Blues, who trailed fourth-placed Tottenham by 10 points last week, narrowed the gap to five points.

Chelsea have the opportunity to increase the pressure on their London rivals when they travel to Swansea on 28 April.

Mauricio Pochettino's team face Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday and do not play in the league again until they meet Watford on 30 April.

Sean Dyche's Burnley remain seventh and on course for the Europa League with an eight-point advantage over Leicester City in eighth.

With one eye on the semi-final, Chelsea's strength in depth afforded Conte the luxury of making six changes to his starting XI without it impairing his team's performance.

They were accomplished going forward despite the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Willian, while Eden Hazard appeared only as a second-half substitute

Chelsea fielded a two-man attack - in the form of Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud - for the first time in seven years.

While Chelsea's finishing was profligate at times - particularly when Morata missed a one-on-one with Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope after N'Golo Kante sent him clear - they were exemplary in their defensive work, restricting an obdurate Burnley to only two shots on target.

It allowed for a comfortable conclusion and back-to-back league wins for first time since December.

'Burnley remain on European path'

While this result ended Burnley's run of five consecutive victories, it did nothing to dampen their hopes of European football next term.

It has been a season of spiralling ambitions in east Lancashire since Dyche's side beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening day.

However, not even the most optimistic Clarets fan could have anticipated being stationed on the brink of European football - for the first time since taking part in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1966-67 - with four games remaining.

Barring an unthinkable collapse, a place in the Europa League second qualifying round between 26 July and 2 August appears a probable destination.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Burnley

  • 29Pope
  • 2Lowton
  • 28Long
  • 5TarkowskiBooked at 28mins
  • 23Ward
  • 25LennonSubstituted forWellsat 87'minutes
  • 4Cork
  • 18Westwood
  • 17Berg Gudmundsson
  • 10Barnes
  • 11WoodSubstituted forVokesat 72'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Heaton
  • 3Taylor
  • 8Marney
  • 9Vokes
  • 13Hendrick
  • 21Wells
  • 26Bardsley

Chelsea

  • 13Courtois
  • 28Azpilicueta
  • 24Cahill
  • 2Rüdiger
  • 15Moses
  • 14Bakayoko
  • 7Kanté
  • 33EmersonSubstituted forZappacostaat 84'minutes
  • 11Pedro
  • 9MorataSubstituted forE Hazardat 71'minutes
  • 18Giroud

Substitutes

  • 1Caballero
  • 4Fàbregas
  • 8Barkley
  • 10E Hazard
  • 21Zappacosta
  • 22Willian
  • 27Christensen
Referee:
Robert Madley
Attendance:
21,264

Match Stats

Home TeamBurnleyAway TeamChelsea
Possession
Home39%
Away61%
Shots
Home5
Away16
Shots on Target
Home2
Away5
Corners
Home3
Away2
Fouls
Home9
Away11

Live Text

Match ends, Burnley 1, Chelsea 2.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Chelsea 2.

Tiemoué Bakayoko (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Matthew Lowton (Burnley).

N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Ashley Barnes (Burnley).

Hand ball by Olivier Giroud (Chelsea).

Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Kevin Long (Burnley).

Attempt blocked. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Olivier Giroud with a headed pass.

Foul by Olivier Giroud (Chelsea).

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Substitution, Burnley. Nahki Wells replaces Aaron Lennon.

Attempt missed. Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Victor Moses with a cross.

Attempt blocked. Tiemoué Bakayoko (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Davide Zappacosta replaces Emerson.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Kevin Long (Burnley).

Attempt blocked. Pedro (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by James Tarkowski.

Attempt blocked. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

Emerson (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Matthew Lowton (Burnley).

Tiemoué Bakayoko (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Kevin Long (Burnley).

Attempt missed. Jack Cork (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kevin Long.

Foul by Tiemoué Bakayoko (Chelsea).

Matthew Lowton (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Sam Vokes (Burnley) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Johann Berg Gudmundsson with a cross.

Substitution

Substitution, Burnley. Sam Vokes replaces Chris Wood.

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.

Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Eden Hazard replaces Álvaro Morata.

Goal!

Goal! Burnley 1, Chelsea 2. Victor Moses (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Emerson with a cross.

Attempt saved. Emerson (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Tiemoué Bakayoko.

Emerson (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Ashley Barnes (Burnley).

Goal!

Goal! Burnley 1, Chelsea 1. Ashley Barnes (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Attempt blocked. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Westwood.

Attempt saved. Victor Moses (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pedro.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

goal

As It Stands

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City33283293256887
2Man Utd34235665263974
3Liverpool342010478354370
4Tottenham34208666313568
5Chelsea34196959342563
6Arsenal331661162451754
7Burnley341410103431352
8Leicester341111124947244
9Everton34119143954-1542
10Newcastle33118143542-741
11Bournemouth35911154158-1738
12Watford34107174260-1837
13Brighton34812143247-1536
14West Ham33811144159-1835
15Huddersfield3498172754-2735
16Crystal Palace34810163654-1834
17Swansea3389162746-1933
18Southampton34514153353-2029
19Stoke34610183164-3328
20West Brom34412182752-2524
View full Premier League table

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