Chelsea 2-1 QPR - Hazard saves Blues

Eden Hazard slotted home the vital spot kick

Chelsea win again but they had to battle for it this weekend

Chelsea cemented their place at the top of the Premier League table with a battling victory over QPR at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were pushed hard by a determined and well organised QPR side. Jose Mourinho's men took the lead thanks to a stunning strike from Oscar in the first half before the visitors levelled through Charlie Austin after the break. However, Eden Hazard won the game for the league leaders with 15 minutes to go with a penalty after being fouled in the area by Eduardo Vargas.

Mourinho was able to bring Diego Costa, who had missed Chelsea's previous four games through injury, back into the starting line-up at the expense of Didier Drogba, while Harry Redknapp opted for Junior Hoilett in place of Bobby Zamora.

Chelsea dominated from the start without really testing Rob Green in the QPR goal. Oscar could only fire a shot wide after a lovely flick-on from Costa, while Branislav Ivanovic should have scored but found the side netting from close range.

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Cesc Fabregas forced Green into action with a shot which he did well to push round the post, but the former England keeper could do nothing about the opening goal just after the half-hour mark. Fabregas, once again at the heart of Chelsea's play, found Oscar who lashed a first-time effort into the far corner. The assist was Fabregas' ninth of the season as he continues to prove his worth to the side.

Chelsea were enjoying themselves and piled on the pressure with wave after wave of free-flowing attacks, but QPR stood firm. Richard Dunne did well to block a Costa effort, Fabregas fired a shot wide and Willian's low drive was comfortably saved by Green.

QPR's forwards were largely frustrated in the opening 45 minutes, Austin coming closest for the visitors when his strike was tipped over the bar by Thibaut Courtois.

The second half continued in the same vein as Chelsea continued to dominate possession. Willian almost found Costa with a dangerous cross as the Blues pressed for a second, and penalty appeals from Hazard and Costa were ignored by referee Mike Jones.

Redknapp made the first substitution of the game, sending on Bobby Zamora in place of Hoilett, and the change seemed to galvanise his team. Green sent his side on their way after making a save from close range from Hazard then Vargas' effort was saved by Courtois but Fer's follow-up was diverted into the net by Austin and, with half an hour to go, the game could have gone either way.

Mourinho responded by sending on Drogba for Willian but it was QPR who could have gone ahead minutes later thanks to a Sandro shot which was deflected just wide of the post. The game was opening up and Oscar almost got his second of the match but his free-kick from the edge of the box was tipped round the post by Green.

The turning point came in the 75th minute when the Blues were awarded a penalty for Vargas' push on Hazard in the box. The Belgian stepped up to take the spot-kick himself and sent Green the wrong way to restore Chelsea's lead.

QPR offered little as the match drew to a close and Mourinho's side played out for the win that sees them maintain their four-point lead over Southampton.

QPR remain second from bottom of the table with seven points from their 10 games so far.