Report and free highlights as Olivier Giroud scores for third straight PL start for first time since January 2017
Chelsea tightened their grip on a Champions League spot as Olivier Giroud's header gave them a 1-0 win over relegated Norwich.
Giroud's header moments before half-time, against an unusually resolute Norwich defence, ensured Frank Lampard's side returned to winning ways after their dire defeat at Sheffield United last weekend.
With Manchester United and Leicester, both starting the matchday a point behind the Blues, to play later in the week it was imperative Chelsea picked up three points to guarantee the pair could not leapfrog them - and a dominant display in west London deserved more than the narrow margin of victory.
Christian Pulisic saw a shot on the turn palmed onto the bar by Tim Krul while Giroud missed a number of first-half chances before scoring the only goal, while after the break Pulisic and Willian were both denied, but Chelsea saw out victory relatively comfortably to move four points clear, for now at least, in third.
Chelsea's persistence has not always paid off this season, but in first-half injury time they did finally find their shooting boots. With Pulisic in space out wide on the left, he cut onto his stronger foot before finding Giroud with a curling cross which the target man buried beyond a helpless Krul, to score in three consecutive Premier League starts for the first time since January 2017. เว็บพนันบาคาร่า
Norwich had yet to muster a shot of any kind and despite the scoreline little changed after the break, with Chelsea again playing attack against defence while finding their path to a second goal frustrated, not least by the agile Krul.
He had to be alert to turn away Pulisic's powerful effort at his near post, while Azpilicueta side-footed over his bar from 20 yards, and minutes later Marcos Alonso was left slapping the ground in frustration after seeing his header denied by the goalkeeper.
Giroud was denied a second with his final touch before being replaced five minutes from time, as Godfrey beat him to the near post from Willian's low cross, but with Kepa in the home goal untested by a single shot on target all night from the Canaries, it was Chelsea singing at full-time as they took the early advantage in the race for the Champions League.
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