Chelsea survived a scare of the possibility of losing a two goal lead for the third time in 2013 by taking their chances and giving Rafa Benitez a rare Stamford Bridge win. Goals from Ramires, Hazard, Lampard and Marin handed the hosts a score-line that looks like a one-sided affair. It wasn’t as clear-cut as that.
As the stats, from our Stats Centre, show – Chelsea and Wigan weren’t that far apart with regards to the numbers. Wigan managed twelve chances and at 2-1 down the away side were looking likeliest to score and a baffling decision from Rafa Benitez to leave Juan Mata and Demba Ba on the bench would have surely cost him his job if Wigan had scored. However Rafa keeps his job for now after Chelsea successfully picked up three vital points.
The performance of Frank Lampard will be the main talking point with the midfielder scoring his third goal of the week and eleventh in the Premier League this season. Lampard also created four chances (more than anyone else in the game) and had five attempts at goal. The returning Eden Hazard was also as impressive with a goal and an assist on his return.
It was lucky number seven for Hazard as the goal and assist were his seventh each and he’s now been involved in 14 of Chelsea’s Premier League goals this season. If there’s been an excellent performer this season after Lampard and Mata it’s got to be Eden Hazard that should be mentioned, in his debut season he’s been brilliant so far and has bounced back well after his ball-boy incident.
We’ll leave you with the Match Summary stats from our Stats Centre (powered by Opta).
All of the stats from this article have been taken from the Opta Stats Centre at EPLIndex.com – Subscribe Now (Includes author privileges!) Check out our new Top Stats feature on the Stats Centre which allows you to compare all players in the league & read about new additions to the stats centre.
