Conte: Chelsea players did well to remain calm

Chelsea cemented their position on top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory at title rivals Manchester City, who had Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho dismissed in a fiery finale, while Sunderland climbed off the bottom with a 2-1 win against Leicester yesterday.

An own goal from Gary Cahill in the closing stages of the first half saw City break the deadlock, and they spurned a number of gilt-edged opportunities to extend their lead after the break.

It is their first such loss at home since April 2009 when they surrendered a lead against Fulham to lose by the same 3-1 scoreline. “His hold up play is getting better”, he said.

No Chelsea players were sent off, though, and Conte was happy with his players’ behaviour.

Aguero is facing a four-match ban after receiving his second red card of the season, but Guardiola defended the Argentine striker.

Chelsea’s Nathaniel Chalobah joined in and was lucky not to see red, while Fernandinho was sent off for grabbing Fabregas.

City simply do not have a player of Kante’s ability and, with a defence that has kept just two clean sheets in the Premier League all season, their inability to protect the likes of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi with a midfield shield suggests they will struggle to win the title this season. “It’s hard at the end of the game when you are losing sometimes to control yourself, but I think he’s a really good player”.

While that was debatable, Taylor provoked fury in the City ranks when he played on after Luiz appeared to nudge Aguero over when in full flow. “But we must continue to work and improve”.

A tetchy Guardiola said afterwards: ‘It was a pity the game finished like this.

“I would like to congratulate Chelsea”.

“Chelsea’s approach was really different but that is part of the game. There were lots of chances for both teams to score”, said Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

Eden Hazard wrapped up the Premier League leaders’ eighth successive win in the last minute before controversy erupted.

Cahill rectified his mistake early in the second half when he cleared off the line a shot from Aguero, who seized on Marcos Alonso’s weak back-pass and rounded goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

They have quality: Costa, Willian and Hazard’s strikes were all excellent while Cesc Fabreags, back in the team, produced lovely assists.

Costa was substituted with five minutes left to play after receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch, but Conte insists he has no significant injury concerns about the Premier League’s top scorer, adding: “He was very exhausted because he ran a lot, but I think – I hope – he can recover for the next game”.