Chelsea 1-0 Stoke City: 5 Lessons Learned

Didier Drogba scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.

Before you say the game was dull, Chelsea hit the wood works three times, and on another day, it could have been 4-0. 

Here are five lessons learned in Roberto Di Matteo's first league win. 

Chelsea's Saviour: Juan Mata

Not since Gianfranco Zola has Chelsea been so reliant on one sole creative outlet. 

Juan Mata has created 52 shots for his teammates in the Premier League. 

He has engineered wins over Birmingham City, Valencia, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton. He was inspirational in Chelsea's 3-3 draw against Manchester United and a 5-3 loss to Arsenal. 

So it was no surprise that he was the one that bailed out a poor Didier Drogba with a great ball. 

It was Mata's 10th assist in the Premier League this season. 

I'm not exactly sure why Mata didn't start today's game, but hopefully Roberto Di Matteo will always start the Spaniard from here on out. 

No Light at the End of the Tunnel for Fernando Torres

Roberto Di Matteo has spoken about his desire to persevere with Fernando Torres, but he didn't get a run today. 

Potentially, this could be three managers in a row that don't rate Torres. 

Ricardo Fuller's Days at Stoke City Are Numbered

With Branislav Ivanović on the floor, Ricardo Fuller stomped on him—a thuggish and cowardly act. 

The assistant referee spotted it (thank goodness), and referee Andre Marriner rightly sent Fuller off.

Prior to Fuller's brain snap, he had foolishly given away a free kick on the edge of Stoke's penalty box. 

For a man that had only put in eight successful tackles this season, he should be fined every time he attempts a tackle. Given that Fuller has more fouls than goals this season, Tony Pulis should sell him. 

Raul Meireles, the Sacrificial Lamb

Roberto Di Matteo recently revealed that he had no friends, and he hasn't endeared himself to Raul Meireles. 

Di Matteo sacrificed Meireles for Juan Mata (who should have been starting) after Ricardo Fuller's red card. 

Aside from set pieces, Stoke City had shut up shop, and Di Matteo made a tactically astute decision. 

It's a decision that André Villas-Boas wouldn't have made. 

David Luiz Needs to Play in Midfield

Even with Stoke down to 10 men, David Luiz had some issues dealing with Jonathan Walters. 

The makeshift right-back pulled down Walters and later allowed the Stoke player to get past him. 

Luiz continues to reinforce the notion that he is a sub-standard defender. Instead of starting Raul Meireles, why not start Luiz in midfield? 

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