• 

  The final whistle goes and Chelsea have run out 3-1 winners to narrow the gap on second-placed Manchester City to four points and pile more pressure on Martin O'Neill's Sunderland. Next stop Japan for the Club World Cup.

• 

  Sunderland are given a late chance to grab a lifeline as they win a free-kick just outside the area, and Craig Gardner rattles the crossbar with a tremendous piledriver.

  90+2
• 

  Four minutes of stoppage time have been signalled as Petr Cech dives away to his right to tip away a Connor Wickham strike from 20 yards.

  90+1
• 

  James McClean provides a wicked low cross from the left wing but Louis Saha is nowhere in sight and Chelsea can usher the ball away to sent off.

  89
• 

  Some Sunderland supporters are beginning to stream out of the Stadium of Light, having come to the conclusion that Chelsea are not going to be caught here.

  88
• 

  Juan Mata has a look of resignation on his face as he receives a yellow card from Mark Halsey following a foul on Jack Colback.

  87
• 

  Chelsea appear to have weathered the storm and Sunderland's fans have gone quiet again as the clock ticks down and there is still a two-goal deficit to make up.

  86
• 

  Ramires is shown a yellow card by Mark Halsey following a late challenge on Louis Saha in midfield.

  84
• 

  Frank Lampard lets fly from distance with a dipping effort that Simon Mignolet can take no chances with, as the goalkeeper punches it away to safety.

  83
• 

  Craig Gardner delivers a cross from the left for Sunderland which is easily claimed by Petr Cech in the centre.

  82
• 

  Seb Larsson is replaced by Louis Saha for the final stages as Martin O'Neill throws caution to the wind.

  81
• 

  Frank Lampard makes his return to action following a spell on the sidelines with a calf problem as he comes on in place of Eden Hazard to shore things up for Chelsea.

  79
• 

  Sunderland are having to commit more bodies forward in search of a goal and that could leave them vulnerable at the back, but Fernando Torres lacks support as he picks up the ball in an advanced area.

  78
• 

  Chelsea's defenders look nervous now as they unconvincingly deal with a couple of corners in quick succession, before launching a swift break through Ryan Bertrand.

  77
• 

  Connor Wickham earns a free-kick for Sunderland following a foul by Ashley Cole in a great position just a few yards outside the area, and Petr Cech is forced to pull off a smart stop to prevent Adam Johnson's curling effort from going into the top corner.

  75
• 

  Eden Hazard shows excellent vision to pick out Juan Mata in the Sunderland area, but the ball does not quite sit down nicely enough for the Spaniard to get in a shot and the hosts can breathe easily again.

  73
• 

  Branislav Ivanovic is cautioned for a foul on James McClean in midfield that stopped a potentially threatening counter-attack dead in its tracks.

  71
• 

  David Luiz has had a good game and he excels himself once again with a good headed clearance from Seb Larsson's dangerous cross towards the back post.

  69
• 

  That Adam Johnson goal has really lifted the crowd and the players are responding as well as they push forward again. Another goal for Sunderland would set up a nerve-jangling finale.

  68
• 

  Martin O'Neill shuffles his pack for the first time as he brings on Jack Colback for Phil Bardsley, with Seb Larsson taking up the right-back spot for the moment.

  66

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