Chelsea close on Premier League crown by condemning Middlesbrough to relegation

A Cesc Fabregas-inspired Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge to take a step closer to league glory.

The Premier League champions-elect entered the game as heavy favourites against Middlesbrough, who were battling to keep their faint hopes of survival alive.

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But first-half goals from Diego Costa and Marcos Alonso put the Blues in control, before Nemanja Matic slotted home midway through the second half.

The result left Antonio Conte’s men one game from confirming their status as champions, while Boro were sentenced to relegation with two games remaining.

Former Bolton Wanderers man Alonso nearly opened the scoring after just 70 seconds when he met Cesc Fabregas’ cross with a fine volley, but Brad Guzan made a fine save to deflect the shot off the crossbar.

It proved a warning sign of things to come, and shortly after David Luiz fired a free kick over and Fabregas fizzed an effort wide.

Chelsea are on the verge of confirming themselves as Premier League champions, and should really have opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Eden Hazard played a perfect ball across the six yard box, but Costa was denied a simple tap-in by a fine tackle.

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But they didn’t have to wait much longer for their reward, with Costa tapping home from three yards after a delightful ball from Fabregas deflected off Fabio and into the striker’s path for his 21st goal of the season.

Middlesbrough entered the game needing a miraculous performance to keep their battle for survival alive, but their hopes were all but killed ten minutes before half time, when Alonso directed a fine Cesar Azpilicueta ball beyond Guzan.

Moses then missed a great chance to put the game beyond doubt moments later when the USA international goalkeeper kept him out after being played through on goal by another sublime Fabregas pass.

As a first half entirely dominated by the hosts came to an end, Alonso had a free kick deflected over before Luiz headed the resulting corner wide of the mark as Steve Agnew’s men were forced to resort, fruitlessly, to long balls.

Just 40 seconds into the second half, Chelsea were unfortunate not to have a third as Pedro’s first-time effort from the edge of the box clipped the bar with Guzan beaten.

Conte’s men continued to surge forward and once more should have added another when Alonso’s cross-shot evaded Costa by an inch, with the Spain international just yards out.

Gary Cahill was next to try his luck, with his thumping effort from 30 yards forcing Guzan to parry, before Fabregas saw a half-volley deflect agonisingly wide off Calum Chambers, with Boro’s goalkeeper wrong-footed.

Matic finally added another after some lovely interplay between Luiz and Hazard which resulted in Fabregas picking out Matic, who chested down before coolly finishing.

Grant Leadbitter then forced Thibaut Courtois into his first meaningful save in the 69th minute with a hopeful 30-yard strike, before Guzan did well to keep out a powerful Moses drive from close range.

The remaining minutes were devoid of any real opportunities as the hosts continued their dominance and the final flickers of Middlesbrough’s Premier League flame petered out.