Chelsea have moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win away at Sunderland.
Five minutes before half time, Cesc Fabregas netted the only goal of the game as the Blues registered a 10th successive victory in the top flight.
Sunderland rallied in the closing stages but it was a poor performance from David Moyes's side, who remain bottom of the standings.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Stadium of Light.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Sunderland and Chelsea.
Without doing the research, I'm assuming that we have already had a top-versus-bottom encounter this season given the changes at both end of the table but this match really feels like its tag. Should they continue their winning streak, Chelsea will run away with the title race while the Sunderland hierarchy have suggested that there will be very few new arrivals in January. There's only two points separating Sunderland from safety but it is not going to be easy for them to stay up.
It could be a different story at Chelsea, who are reportedly close to selling out-of-favour Oscar for £60m. Not only do they possess the in-form players in the division, Conte will have a considerable warchest to use should he wish to strengthen his all-conquering squad. At this stage, he is probably against any new arrivals but that may change if his team slip up in a game like this.
Anyway, without further ado, let's get cracking with the team news from the Stadium of Light. Both managers have made alterations...
SUNDERLAND XI: Pickford, Kone, Djilobodji, O'Shea, Jones, Denayer, Kirchhoff, Van Aanholt, Borini, Defoe, Januzaj
SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Mannone, Larsson, Khazri, Love, Asoro, Maja, Honeyman.
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Diego Costa, Pedro
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Chalobah, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi
Let's start with the visitors, who make two changes to the team which started the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend. It was public knowledge that Eden Hazard would miss out because of an ankle injury so Willian comes in to take his place. There is also a start from Cesc Fabregas, with Nemanja Matic dropping down to the bench. There are a couple of notable inclusions on the bench too with Kurt Zouma and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both featuring among the replacements.
As for Sunderland, David Moyes has made four alterations to the side which succumbed to a tame 3-0 defeat at Swansea City. John O'Shea, Jan Kirchhoff, Adnan Januzaj and Fabio Borini have all been included but Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar do not make the squad. Papy Djilobodji starts in the centre of defence against his former side, who he played just one minute for in a League Cup match away at Walsall.
It's unusual for so many Premier League fixtures to be played on a midweek night but you are spoiled for choice this evening! I don't think you are going to go wrong by following this match with me but we have plenty of other games on offer if you want to take a look here.
HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's match represents the 124th time in which these two teams have met in a competitive fixture, with Chelsea winning 59 times compared to 42 victories for Sunderland.However, while you would expect Chelsea to have had the better of their last six meetings, that is not the case. The Black Cats have won three times and record a draw, with Chelsea only having two 3-1 triumphs at Stamford Bridge to their name. It means that the North-East outfit are unbeaten in their last three matches with Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.
The most recent showdown between the two teams came in May when Sunderland pulled off a sensational comeback victory by a 3-2 scoreline. The home side - then managed by Sam Allardyce - went 1-0 down but they ended up recording a win which was crucial to their survival in the top flight. Want to look back at that game? Of course you do. Click here to read about a classic encounter.
It's pointless taking a look at our Stat Centre to read the form guide because we know that Chelsea have won their last nine matches, but it's worth noting that Sunderland have performed well recently. It was reported that Moyes was facing a fight to keep his job but three wins from five outings has at least brought the club back in with their rivals. At one point, it appeared that they were going to be cut adrift at the bottom but if they can keep picking up points here and there, they will hope that their home form is good enough to get them out of trouble.
This news may have plenty of relevance to Chelsea supporters. Earlier today, Gary Rowett was remarkably sacked as boss of Birmingham City and it has now been confirmed that Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has replaced him. That could result in Chelsea farming some of their young crop out to St Andrew's over the course of the next 12 months. Zola is going to be joined by Pierluigi Casiraghi and Kevin Hitchcock. It's a proper Stamford Bridge reunion.
Let's get back to this game and speak about the inclusion of Cesc Fabregas. It's a big call by Conte with Matic having started all but one of Chelsea's Premier League fixtures this season, as well as providing six assists, but despite rumours about his future, Fabregas has been coming up with the goods when he has been given the opportunity. He set up Chelsea's winner at Watford at the start of the season, he played a key role in the Blues' victory over Manchester City a couple of weeks ago and he helped set up Diego Costa's goal against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend. He may be lacking regular game-time but expect the Spaniard to contribute again tonight.
Sunderland's key man is, of course, Defoe. The experienced forward was starved of service against Swansea at the weekend but he will be hoping for improved fortunes against Chelsea tonight. Defoe has scored in four of his last five outings at the Stadium of Light and he will relish the chance to come up against David Luiz, who was carrying a knock at the weekend.
This game is also another chance for Patrick van Aanholt to come up against his former side. The left-sided player made just eight appearances for Chelsea earlier in his career but he has established himself as a key part of Sunderland's squad, scoring seven goals in 86 matches from the left side of the pitch. He sometimes comes in for criticism for his defensive contributions but there's no doubting that his pace will be an asset against a team playing with a 3-4-3 formation.
PREDICTION! We are not writing off Sunderland in this match - as we've mentioned, they haven't lost in the last three games with Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. However, we would be foolish to not predict a Chelsea win, and we think they will be able to run out 3-1 victors, even without Eden Hazard.
It's time for the two teams to start making their way out at the Stadium of Light. The home supporters are certainly up for this one. We will see if they can spur their team on over the next couple of hours.
Sunderland get us underway.
Chelsea have quickly set into the rhythm of spraying the ball about the pitch but a long spell on the ball ends with a speculative shot from Alonso which is blazed over the crossbar.
Decent response from the home side, who manage to release Jones down the right flank. However, his driven cross into the box avoids everyone and goes out for a goal kick.
Januzaj manages to get a foot in to dispossess a Chelsea player in the left corner but he only ends up conceding a corner. However, from the resulting set piece, Chelsea soon commit a foul.
It hasn't been the most exciting of beginnings but Chelsea look classy on the ball, as you'd expect. Sunderland are having to play within themselves and are sitting deep but again, that's to be expected.
The difference with Chelsea tonight is Willian dropping a lot deeper than Hazard normally would. It's going to be interesting to see how this match unfolds because I'd expect Conte to be instructing the Brazilian to be playing on the shoulder of one of the full-backs. Sunderland will prefer to have him in front of them, like he is now.
Chelsea's best move of the match sees Alonso released down the left flank but rather than try to pick out a man, he drives the ball across the box and it's well defended by Sunderland.
While many of Chelsea's passes are being played at a slow pace, Sunderland show them how it's done with a blistering break which sees several one-touch passes before a corner is won. The ball is delivered by Januzaj but Courtois is able to claim at the second opportunity.
Neither Costa or Defoe have had any impact whatsoever in either final third. It's been that kind of game. Lots of huffing and puffing in the middle of the pitch but absolutely nothing in the way of shots any nearer than 35 yards out.
SHOT! There we go, that's a shot. Januzaj is played in down the right side of the pitch and after cutting inside onto his left foot, he attempts to find the far corner. It's a decent effort but his strike is deflected wide by Cahill.
CHANCE! Given his recent form, this has to be consider a chance, but a difficult one at that. Alonso's pass is fizzed into Costa, but his attempt at a first-time volley is poor and his shot is miscued towards the corner flag.
Most of Chelsea's threat is coming through Alonso but while some of his crosses from the left are being played into the right areas, they are not finding a man. On this occasion, Costa is to blame for not being available in the centre of the penalty area. If he was, it's probably a goal.
Chelsea are putting Sunderland under a bit more pressure now. The final ball is still way off for a team of their quality but they are at least forcing the issue a bit more. Willian is still insistent on dropping deep to collect the ball.
I wish I could provide a few different comments but this is as bad a game as I have seen all season. Chelsea are dominating possession but there is literally no end product. Sunderland are more than content to continue like this until they are forced to change their setup.
Chelsea win a free kick around 30 to 35 yards from goal but it's not really in a shooting position, Luiz has seen enough, however, and decides to try to test Pickford. He gets his effort on target, via the aid of a deflection, but the goalkeeper is able to claim it without having to move.
GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea (Fabregas)
It definitely hadn't been coming but Chelsea finally show something of a high standard in the final third as they break the deadlock at the Stadium of Light. It comes through Fabregas, who was set up by a disguised pass by Willian before he was able to fire the ball past Pickford.
BOOKING! Just minutes after opening the scoring, Fabregas is clattered by Defoe and the Sunderland forward deservedly goes into the book.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
BOOKING! O'Shea follows Defoe into the book for a late challenge on Costa.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea
The half-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light and Chelsea lead a poor game by that effort from Fabregas five minutes before the break. Chelsea haven't done a whole lot right tonight but they have been better by Sunderland, who must throw caution to the wind after the break.
The two teams are slowly making their way back out for the second half. I'd like to promise you a better second half but let's see how things go.
Chelsea get us back underway. There have been no changes for either side.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Sunderland at the start of this second half. Defoe picks out Januzaj on the right of the penalty area and he only has Courtois to beat. However, the Belgian stopper stands up well to divert the ball behind for a corner.
CHANCE!
These last few minutes have been more exciting than the entire first half!
WOODWORK! Willian has been much more lively since the restart and he almost adds a second for the Blues. He glides past a couple of Sunderland defenders before his deflected shot strikes the crossbar and goes over.
CHANCE! Chelsea are beginning to turn the screw and Pickford has to be alert to prevent a Costa effort finding the back of the net. This is an important period for the home side.
CHANGE! Moyes has seen enough and decides to throw on Larsson for Kirchoff. It's an offensive-thinking change from the Scot.
SUBSTITUTION! Sunderland are having to make another change due to an injury to Jones. Donald Love is coming on in his place.
CHANCE! Moses comes so close to a second! He moves inside onto his left foot to create an opening for himself to shoot on goal from 20 yards. Pickford looks beaten but his effort goes just wide of the post.
CHANCE! If Willian doesn't score tonight, he will wonder how. He seems to have the ball on a string in this second half and Sunderland are scared of making a challenge. On this occasion, he cut inside onto his right foot before shooting just wide of the far post.
It's been a quiet last few minutes or so. They have been very much second best but Sunderland have done excellently to still be just the one goal behind. There will come a time in this game where Chelsea will sit a bit deeper and that's when you would think Sunderland would try to strike.
SHOT! Even Kante is trying his luck now. The midfielder comes through a tackle before drilling a left-footed effort on goal, but it's too close to Pickford.
BOOKING! Borini goes into the book for a deliberate pull of Kante's shirt as he attempted to break forward. The Italian can have no complaints and he doesn't.
CHANCE! He haven't seen much of Defoe tonight but he manages to get across Luiz to flick a volley towards goal. It's close but still a couple of yards away from the bottom corner.
SUBSTITUTION! Chelsea make their first change with Pedro being replaced by Matic. I'm assuming that will see Fabregas deployed further forward alongside Willian and Costa.
I'm sure that Conte would have been hoping to get some of his fringe players on the pitch towards the end of this match but I can't see any surprises off the bench while the score remains the same.
Chelsea should be focused on not giving Sunderland a look in but Luiz concedes a silly foul on Borini to the side of the penalty area. The ball into the area causes trouble for the Blues defence but they are eventually able to clear.
There's still a similar tempo to this game. Chelsea are having much of the ball but Sunderland remain a threat when they are able to force the visitors back into their own half. Khazri was thrown on by Moyes around five minutes ago in order to help their cause going forward.
CHANCE! Fabregas is found inside the penalty area after he is able to beat the offside trap but he drags a shot well wide of the far post. He looks disgusted with himself. On comes Chalobah for Willian.
Here come Sunderland, who still fancy this. A deep cross towards the back post is a good one but Azpilicueta is able to get his head on the ball to put it behind for a corner.
CHANCE! From the resulting corner, Denayer gets the opportunity to get a free header on goal but he sends it straight at Courtois. He should be doing better from there!
BOOKING! Moses goes into the book, despite seemingly winning the ball in the Sunderland half. He is then substituted for Ivanovic.
SAVE! What a save from Courtois! Van Aanholt thinks that his volley is finding the bottom corner but the Belgian gets across to top the ball away.
FULL TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea
The full-time whistle goes at the Stadium of Light and Chelsea have held on to record another win in the Premier League. Sunderland pressed hard during the closing stages but the Blues were full value for their victory - their 10th in a row in the league.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening on what has been a bumper night of action in the Premier League. Goodbye for now.
