Chelsea edged past Sunderland to take all three points in a seven-goal thriller at the Stadium of Light yesterday evening.

The hosts took the lead through Jozy Altidore on fourteen minutes, only for Frank Lampard to draw the visitors level three minutes later with a close range header.

Eden Hazard then put Chelsea in front with a curling strike from twenty yards, with John O’Shea levelling terms five minutes after the break.

Hazard then wove through the home defence to fire in his second and the Blues third, before Phil Bardsley turned into his own net with six minutes to play to put the result beyond doubt.

Bardsley still had time to make amends by scoring at the right end, but Jose Mourinho’s men held on to chalk up a third straight league victory and keep pressure on league leaders Arsenal, who beat Hull City 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

The club’s hectic December continues on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Stoke City before hosting Steaua Bucharest in their final Champions League game on Wednesday evening.

They then face Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge before again travelling to the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland – this time in their Capital One Cup quarter final.