Just how important was Chelsea's 1-0 victory over QPR?

I have taken a while to publish my thoughts on Sunday's last gasp victory over QPR as I wanted to digest the game, think about the performance, the three points and what it means for the Premier League. I've come to the conclusion it was MASSIVE!

We all sat there watching a dire game, a scrappy game and a typical London derby. QPR played their part in making life difficult for Chelsea in all aspects at Loftus Road. From the hostile supporters and the abuse each player received to the fact that they chose not to water the pitch ahead of the game, QPR did exactly what they needed to do and were so close to a point.

As I said watching the game and as time went by I kept thinking to myself that we seemed disjointed, we seemed laboured and at times we were struggling to provide a threat to their goal which is unlike Chelsea.

But for Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea were extremely lucky to survive as Phillips turned Matic ten years out and struck the ball hard goal wards. We were lucky in the fact that it was straight at our big Belgian in goal and he managed to push the ball away from danger!

I thought Gary Cahill was outstanding at the back and had one of his better games of late but through midfield and up top we just could not get anything going. It seemed as though Chelsea would settle for a 0-0, take a point and move five points clear of the Arsenal with a game in hand.

I was just thinking that Eden Hazard had hardly been in the game (and you have to hand credit to QPR for that up to that point) when I thought to myself that all he would need would be one chance to be able to create something from nothing and that's exactly what the Player of the Year did.

Rob Green's slice of his attempted goal kick handed Hazard that opportunity. He chested the ball down into this path and he was in behind QPR down our right hand side. He holds the ball up, waits for the right moment to pass the ball and Oscar gives him what he needs.

He slides the ball into Oscar, who in turn lays the ball off in Hazard's path beyond the defender and just as he gets further into the box on the byline, right hand side of the box, he spots a late run from Cesc Fabregas , lays the ball off to him and the Spaniard pops up and slides the ball into the net giving Rob Green no chance!

It wasn't what we deserved but who cares! Chelsea had managed to grind out another win by not playing well making it eight wins and three draws from our last eleven games!

Oscar made a huge difference to our attacking approach when he came on. Having been dropped for Ramires from the start, Oscar provided movement and a willingness to come and show for the ball that gave us an out-ball that we had been looking for and credit Mourinho for chasing the game knowing we had not played well.

So what does this mean for the Premier League and the title race? 

It was a massive three points and surely, it has to be a blow for Arsenal and Manchester United. OK, we play both of them in the next couple of weeks and they must have thought that our lead would have been cut to five points.

It's such a contrast to last season. It was games such as these that really cost Chelsea a year ago. It shows just how much we have pushed forward. To think, we had no Diego Costa or Loic Remy but we still managed to pick up the three points!

I really, really fancy Chelsea to turn over Manchester United, then Leicester leaving us with a game against Arsenal at the Emirates to wrap up the Premier League title. Cesc Fabregas to hit the winner anyone?

Conclusion.

It was a crap game, it was by no means our best performance and looked as though it was heading for a 0-0. Thank god for Eden Hazard as we take one more step closer to the title!