Chelsea 1-0 Swansea
Chelsea's strikers offered Christmas gifts galore to Swansea but the Blues still managed to grind out a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
A sole Eden Hazard goal, well-crafted as it was, stood alone as the one memorable moment of a Boxing Day clash that felt bloated and tired.
John Terry possibly should have had an opener when he collected a left-sided cross from Oscar. The Blues captain got his head to it and forced a save from Gerhard Tremmel.
Chelsea turned the screw, raining in attack after attack, but it looked like it might be one of those days.
On the half-hour, after some deft flicks and touches, Hazard announced his substantive arrival on the match.
Taking the ball into the Swansea box from his natural left, he left Jordi Amat standing, before switching direction again to shoot past Ashley Williams and Tremmel, breaking the deadlock.
Chelsea went in at the break grateful for the lead, but wondering what might have been had they been able to seize their chances.
Another chance went begging immediately from the restart, Juan Mata setting up Eto'o for a point-bank shot on goal, which cannoned off the goalkeeper.
The expectation remained until the end that Chelsea might kill off the game. But they never showed the mettle to do it.
Meanwhile Swansea continually threatened from set-pieces, without actually finding the net.
Jose Mourinho will doubtless again point to three battle-scarred points won for the Blues in their hour of 'transition'.
He had better hope his Blues have more in reserve for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday.
