Chelsea exerts their technical dominance from the first minute of the game. Hazard breaks down the left and crosses in towards Diego Costa. Pierce Sweeney is marking him tightly though and is strong in the air to nod the ball to safety
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Chelsea regather, and Billing trips Coman just outside the area for a dangerous free kick. Ward-Prouse has a shot straight into the wall - second chance of the game, Tranmere stays solid... at 1:08 on the clock.
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Ward-Prouse claims the rebound and feeds it to Felipe Luis on the left. Kent strips the ball off him for a "good clean tackle" according to the commentator. Luis flopped to the ground but no appeals.
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Kent dribbles out but is obviously nervous, his clearance only travels 20m to find Hazard just lurking.
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I count 9 Chelsea shirts in that picture - and our goal is on the right! That's right, almost their entire team is in front of the ball, and it is only 40m out from goal! For some reason known only to him, Hazard plays back towards the lone defender. Disaster averted.
1:52 and Chelsea are in complete control still. After some midfield magic Coman sees Costa up ahead, and plays him into space. Costa makes no mistake - 1:0! No!
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Wait, the referee calls offside. It looks borderline, but correct.
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3:50, Hazard takes a corner for Chelsea. Felipe Luis hits it on the volley from deep, straight into Daniels.
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Chalobah hits the rebound on the half-volley, straight into Towell.
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Nkoulou gathers the rebound, and tries to pass for another Chalobah shot, but finds Stockton. Tranmere belts it away and the bench breathes again. But the defense puts it straight back down to Hazard, who fires in yet another cross. Daniels gets himself in front of Coman and belts it away.
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Absolutely brilliant so far and not 5 mins gone!
It doesnt stop there. Felipe Luis takes the throw, and gives it to Coman deep in the left.
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Coman lays back to Hazard on the top corner of the box. Hazard glances up and sees Diego Costa ahead with only 3 Tranmere shirts in the way... easy pass.
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He fires in an absolute rocket of a pass, so hard that fon Williams dives to make a save!
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Sweeney makes another brilliant tackle to strip Costa of the ball, and gives it a belting clearance. Finally a chance to draw breath at 4:30.
Tranmere take the ball and make a few passes just to remind themselves that they are playing a game of football. Towell plays one too close to Hazard, oops! He pounces, and all of a sudden they are back on attack. No Richie, that's their guy!
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A couple of quick first touch passes and the ball is at Diego Costa's feet in space.
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Costa breaks right, dribbles to the edge of the box and unleashes. Billing has tracked back with him though, and makes a sliding tackles right on the edge of the box - courageous.
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Unfortunately the ball slips out into Coman's path, and he cracks it first time towards goal.
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Just wide. Phew.
Tranmere settle into a bit more of a rhythm from here and while there are a few more close chance, they are easily dealt with.
28 mins
Chelsea have a throw deep in Tranmere territory on the left. Ward-Prouse collects at the edge of the box, plays it to Felipe Luis who fires in a shot practically from the corner - audacious. It might have been a cross... but was going goalward
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fon Williams parries the ball but it bobbles away dangerously
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Diego Costa leaps on the loose ball, fon Williams is on the ground and the goal is seemingly at his mercy!
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Sweeney makes a critical slide tackle and takes all ball, perfect. Tranmere goal stays intact
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