Stoke City vs. Chelsea: Score and Reaction from 2015 Premier League Match

Stoke City beat Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a goal from Marko Arnautovic. The result heaps the pressure on Blues manager Jose Mourinho after his club suffered a seventh league defeat already this season.

Last season's champions are now just three points above the bottom three and 13 short of the top four.

The under-fire Mourinho, serving a stadium ban, left out-of-form playmaker Cesc Fabregas on the bench at Stoke's Britannia Stadium. Oscar also missed out, while wingers Eden Hazard and Pedro made the starting 11. It was clear Mourinho had set his team up to strike on the break.

He also left out disappointing centre-back Gary Cahill. Chelsea's official Twitter account detailed the Blues' 11:

The Sentinel's Pete Smith passed along a familiar-looking Stoke side, featuring attacking midfielder Bojan:

During the scrappy early stages, Smith felt Chelsea striker Diego Costa got away with one following a clash with Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross:

An aerial duel between Pedro and Erik Pieters left the Dutch defender battered and bloodied.

Amid the stop-start exchanges, Hazard wasted a presentable chance for the Blues. Meanwhile, winger Xherdan Shaqiri was the home side's most obvious danger man.

Ramires poked wide after a lightning-fast break from the visitors. Hazard and Willian combined to tee up the Brazilian midfield runner.

Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic then made a smart stop to deny Glen Johnson. Bojan's through pass was a rare classy moment going forward for the hosts.

But the Blues soon settled into a pattern of dominance. They peppered Stoke's goal with a litany of corners. Both Hazard and Pedro excelled. The latter's passing was a particular delight.

It took a superb save from Jack Butland with his legs to deny Costa a goal after stylish play from Pedro.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Somehow, Chelsea couldn't find the goal and went in at half-time level with their thoroughly outplayed hosts.

Still, the visitors stayed bright after the break. Hazard, playing with more freedom than in recent matches, remained a constant threat.

But against the run of play, Stoke struck first. The Potters went ahead when Arnautovic turned in a half-volley from Johnson's cross.

There was some suspicion of an offside leading up to the goal, but Sky Sports commentator Niall Quinn dispelled the notion, per Sky Sports on Twitter:

It was a real shock to the Chelsea system after such a prolonged spell of dominance.

Credit to the away team, though, as they continued to press. Hazard tied the Stoke defence in knots before thrashing an impetuous shot over the bar, while Johnson did the same for the Potters following some fantastic work from Bojan.

Arnautovic then headed over from Shaqiri's cross. The Swiss wide man was tormenting Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman.

In a game that was increasingly open, Pedro shook the post with a cunningly whipped effort from the edge of the box. His direct play was making a difference, something he offers the struggling Blues, per Sky Sports:

Buoyed by the goal, Stoke's players were leaving too much room for Chelsea on the break.

Two changes for Chelsea saw a run-ragged Rahman make way. Surprisingly, so did Pedro. Oscar and Fabregas entered the fray. Striker Loic Remy soon joined them in place of Ramires to boost Chelsea's firepower.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes made a bold change when he introduced Dutch playmaker Ibrahim Afellay. It was an attack-minded substitution, a reflection of the difference at Stoke on Hughes' watch compared with that of ultra-pragmatic predecessor Tony Pulis.

If the thinking behind introducing Afellay was to help Stoke keep the ball, it didn't work. Chelsea continued to press, and only a fortunate deflection off Johnson denied Hazard an equaliser amid a scramble in the box.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Hughes sent striker Mame Biram Diouf on for Shaqiri to give the Potters an outlet who could hold up the ball. He helped set up a chance for Jonathan Walters, but the burly forward blazed over.

Controversy ensued when Butland slid at Remy in the box. The French attacker leaped over the goalkeeper and was honest enough not to go to ground. Had he done so, a penalty would surely have been given.

Chelsea couldn't make the breakthrough.

Post-Match Reaction

After the game, Hughes made reference to Mourinho not being on the bench. He insisted his opposite number's absence harmed Chelsea's chances to win, according to Signal 2 on Twitter:

Hughes also made sure to applaud Remy for not taking advantage of a situation to try to draw a penalty:

Hughes now has Stoke on the doorstep of the top half of the table.

Chelsea opted against talking to the press after yet another dismal day, per ESPN's Miguel Delaney:

The Blues' disastrous title defence has taken another nightmare turn. Mourinho's future looks increasingly bleak.