Branislav Ivanovic's fourth goal in his last six outings has given Chelsea a slender 1-0 advantage over Burnley at half time in their encounter at Stamford Bridge.
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Juan Cuadrado forced Tom Heaton to tip his header over the bar after five minutes, while Ashley Barnes thumped a volley down the throat of Thibaut Courtois in a lively opening.
Chelsea went ahead after 14 minutes when Eden Hazard drove past four Burnley challenges inside the box and cut the ball back for Ivanovic, who slotted the ball inside the near post from six yards out.
Hazard's quality almost forced a second goal a minute later as he teed up Oscar, who was denied by a sprawling Heaton save.
After half an hour, Ivanovic sent another shot towards goal which seemed to strike the outstretched hand of Michael Kightly, but the referee waved away Chelsea's claims for a penalty.
Jose Mourinho was protesting again shortly before the half-time whistle as Diego Costa went down under a challenge from Jason Shackell, but Martin Atkinson allowed play to continue.
Kristian Johnson
