Chelsea end the weekend as new leaders of the English Premier League following their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Sunday evening.

Heading into the encounter two points behind Liverpool and Manchester City, the Blues knew top-spot was ripe for the taking, and immediately set out with intent, as Eden Hazard, Pedro and Victor Moses looked lively going forward, keeping Victor Valdez busy in the Boro goal.

The pressure eventually bore fruit five minutes before the break through none other than top marksman Diego Costa, who reacted quickest to a Blues corner that was initially cleared to volley home his tenth of the season, pulling two clear of Sergio Aguero atop the EPL scorers’ list.

Middlesbrough showed fight in the second period in creating chances of their own, yet it was Antonio Conte’s men who fashioned the clearer opportunities, none closer than Pedro’s fine strike on 64 minutes which rattled the crossbar.

A fine save by Thibaut Courtois denied Alvaro Negredo kept his clean sheet, and Chelsea’s sixth in a row, as they made it 18 points from a possible 18 to reach the summit of the standings with a well-earned 1-0 win.