MANAGER Guus Hiddink has set a new Premier League record following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Stoke City on Saturday.
Bertrand Traore’s first-half opener was cancelled out by Mame Biram Diouf in the second half, while the match was Hiddink’s 12th in the Premier League since he took over from Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
The Dutchman remains unbeaten in the Premier League since he returned to Chelsea, and no manager in the division’s history has gone 12 games without a defeat from when their reign started.
Meanwhile, with one eye perhaps on the Champions League last 16 second leg at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Hiddink opted to name CescFabregas on the bench and deploy John Obi Mikel in midfield, while Baba Rahman returned and Willian was restored to the line-up due to Costa’s enforced absence.
Chelsea may have been ruing the loss of the Spain international when Traore failed to take advantage of a fourth-minute cross from Cesar Azpilicueta, andthe defending Premier League champions’ early momentum ebbed away.
Ibrahim Afellay forced Courtois into a diving save with a powerful 20-yard strike, before his brilliant cross with the outside of his right boot following a rapid break was steered narrowly over by Diouf in the 21st minute.
The Senegalese striker was unable to hit the target when presented with his next opportunity, scuffing wide after another counter-attacking move, and the deadlock was broken six minutes before the interval.
