Diego Costa's tenth goal of the season moved Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League as their 6th straight win saw off Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium today.

 

After an even start of the game, Chelsea increased the heat and deservedly scored before the break when Costa responded fastest to score from a free ball inside the Boro box.

 

The Blues kept on making shots, Pedro going nearest when he smacked a rising drive against the crossbar.

 

Boro's most obvious opportunity came when Alvaro Negredo's 78th-minute volley was spared by the Chelsea goal keeper.

 

It was the only time the home side forced Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois into a great stop.

Chelsea soared Liverpool and Manchester City to go a point clear, while Boro stay one-point clear of the relegation zone in fifteenth place.

 

Conte masterstroke moves Chelsea back on top

 

After the arrival of previous Juventus and Italy coach Conte, many anticipated that would see a defensive approach by the Blues.

 

They were permeable in the opening two months of the season, losing 3-0 at Arsenal on 24 September.

 

From that point forward, the Blues have been invulnerable in the Premier League.

 

Conte made a strategic change to a 3-4-3 development for their next match at Hull - and they have won every one of the six matches since without conceding.

 

Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso have been impactful in their embraced wing-back roles, while Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta have looked stronged in a back three.

 

It has turned out to be a masterstroke by Conte. Also, it has helped the Blues move top of the table surprisingly since they were champions in May 2015.

 

The back-to-back games against Tottenham and Manchester City will be another measure of their late change.