Chelsea 1 - Swansea 0: Antonio Rudiger header seals win as Antonio Conte sees red

Chelsea registered their fifth win in their last six league games as they kept up their pursuit of Manchester City at the top of the table, thanks to Antoine Rudiger’s second-half header.

But it was laboured stuff and Conte lost his temper and ranted at fourth official Lee Mason as referee Neil Swarbrick failed to award his side a corner. The Italian, whose red card was his first in English football, now faces a touchline ban.

Struggling Swansea, whose manager Paul Clement is under increasing pressure, had only one shot on target and should have been seen off far easier in front of a watching Roman Abramovich. 

Conte took a gamble in leaving Eden Hazard on the bench and also resting the usually indefatigable defender Cesar Azpilicueta, after 74 consecutive Premier League games.

Clement’s team went into the match having lost seven of their last nine games and having not scored in their last three. To make matters worse, top scorer Tammy Abraham was ineligible, on loan from Chelsea for the season.

And Chelsea’s players wore black armbands in honour of former youth coach Dermot Drummy, who died on Monday.

Conte’s team started brightly, as Willian’s free-kick was missed by everyone and flew just wide of the far post. Then Davide Zappacosta’s shot was saved by Lukasz Fabianski. Pedro, recalled to the attack, twice forced the Polish goalkeeper into saves, as did Alvaro Morata with a firm header.

Then from a lovely chip by Cesc Fabregas, Morata produced a volley that Fabianski did well to tip over the bar. Chelsea were utterly dominant, as Marcos Alonso headed into the side netting.

Conte was growing increasingly frustrated on the touchline at his side’s inability to break through, with Swansea seemingly content to sit and soak up the pressure.

Then Pedro’s prod from Willian’s cross somehow trickled past the far post and as referee Neil Swarbrick wrongly gave a goal kick – and Conte exploded.

The Italian ranted face to face at fourth official Lee Mason, yelling: “Tell him about the corner, tell him about the corner.”

Mason called over Swarbrick and there was more ranting from the Italian and the referee sent the Chelsea manager off. A fuming Conte went to sit behind the bench but was then told to move.

It was perhaps a surprise Conte went, given his fiery touchline antics. Coach Angelo Alessio took over the touchline duties from Conte - who watched from a monitor in the dressing room - as Chelsea kept pressing, but the frustration continued as Pedro blazed over when he should have done better.

And then at last came the breakthrough. N’Golo Kante fired in a shot from the edge of the area, the ball deflected off Wilfried Bony and Rudiger pounced to thump home a header for his first league goal for Chelsea.

Alfie Mawson, who seemed at times to be holding Chelsea at bay on his own, then somehow cleared Alonso’s shot off the line.

Fabianski produced another excellent save to tip Morata’s header over the bar and then the goalkeeper kept out Alonso’s low effort.