Fabregas scores decisive goal, Chelsea keeps hope of top four alive

Goal: Fabregas 4'.

The win moved Chelsea back to within two points of fourth-placed Tottenham, who have played a game more, while Swansea remain in the relegation battle, one point ahead of 18th-placed Southampton.

The only goal was scored in Chelsea's first counter-attack. The home team Swansea paid the price for Andy King's lack of concentration. The midfielder's poor ball control caused the home team to lose possession in a dangerous position. The ball was passed to Eden Hazard and the midfielder cut to the right wing for Cesc Fabregas to unleash a dangerous left-footed shot, beating goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

This was Fabregas' 50th goal for Chelsea. He is the third Spaniard to reach this milestone at Stamford Bridge after Fernando Torres and Diego Costa.

Conceding an early goal in a desperate need for points, Swansea pushed their squad forward to attack. However, a five-man midfield with muscular players including Tiemoue Bakayoko, N'golo Kante or Victor Moses helped Antonio Conte's team easily block the home team's attacks.

In this match, Chelsea's winter transfer contract Emerson started and was assigned to guard the left wing.

In the rainy conditions, ball control between the two teams became difficult. In addition to Andy King's disastrous loss of possession, defender Alfie Mawson almost cost Swansea a second goal when his clearance hit the top of the crossbar.

Playing at the Liberty Stadium, where they have not lost a game since the start of January, Swansea struggled to find a way through the opposition goal, with Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew both having chances in the second half but failing to find the net.

For Chelsea, Moses had a close-range finish after Fabregas' cross, sending the ball just wide of the post. Thibaut Courtois' goal was in a state of alarm in the last 15 minutes. Kyle Naughton, Tom Carroll and Wayne Routledge all had chances but could not take advantage.

In the final minutes, Swansea players and fans were angry with the referee for not awarding them a penalty. The home team believed that Gary Cahill had fouled Nathan Dyer. In addition to this situation, Cahill also had a collision with Jordan Ayew in the penalty area in stoppage time but was not penalized..

Chelsea's efforts earned them three hard-won points. With Liverpool and Tottenham stumbling in recent rounds, Conte's team's hopes of breaking into the top four are resurgent. In the next round, they will face Liverpool at home.