Chelsea vs Stoke player ratings: Who was the star man in Stamford Bridge stalemate?

The Blues conceded a late goal to draw at home

(2016 Getty Images)

Stoke City maintained a three point gap over reigning Premier League champions Chelsea thanks to a late Mame Biram Diouf header which earned the Potters a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea opened the scoring on 39 minutes, 20-year-old striker Bertrand Traore taking a superb first touch in traffic before turning and hitting a ferocious shot with the outside of his left foot, which curled away from Jack Butland into the corner of the Stoke net.

The Potters dominated the opening exchanges of the second-half, Marko Arnaurtovic stinging the hands of Thibaut Courtois with a driven effort from outside the box before Xherdan Shaqiri forced the Belgian keeper to produce a wonderful diving save just a few minutes later.

Chelsea managed to weather the Stoke storm and were very unlucky not to win a penalty when Oscar was bundled over by Marc Muniesa inside the Stoke box.

Just when it looked as though Chelsea were in control and looking to see it out the closing minutes, Stoke struck.

Courtois, attempting to punch away a Shaqiri cross, was only able to palm the ball straight to Diouf who headed the ball into a gaping net.

That’s how it finished at the Bridge, Traore’s moment of magic just enough to earn the hosts a point.