Ashley Cole was the unlikely hero as Chelsea scored a dramatic late winner to breach Stoke's resistance.<br />The England defender stole in with five minutes left to prod in Juan Mata's flick and keep Chelsea three points clear at the top of the Premier League.<br />Stoke threatened to cause an upset when Jonathan Walters headed onto Cech's crossbar before half-time.<br /><br />Manager Tony Pulis threw Michael Owen on as he sensed victory, but it was Chelsea who snatched all three points.<br />With Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watching from the stands after his unscheduled visit to the training ground on Thursday, the onus was on Roberto Di Matteo to win - and win well.<br />But against a side as disciplined and obdurate as Stoke that was never likely to be straightforward, despite their woeful record at Stamford Bridge.<br />The Potters last league victory there had come in April 1974, but with Di Matteo opting to leave captain John Terry and Frank Lampard on the sidelines this was not a familiar, forceful Chelsea of the recent past.<br />Rather than reinforce in the defensive midfield area after seeing Chelsea win the Champions League in May, Abramovich has invested in youth and attacking flair and almost all £80m of it was given its chance to shine against Stoke.
