Cole's late show lets Di Matteo off hook

For much of this encounter Roman Abramovich had that look on his face - a mixture of bemusement and Roman Emperor-like displeasure - that suggested Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo should be shifting a little uneasily on the bench.

In the end, Chelsea got the victory they desired, but did not necessarily deserve, and the club's owner will have felt a pang of vindication that his visit to the training ground the day after the Champions League draw at home to Juventus had the necessary effect.

Certainly there appeared to be a reaction in the Chelsea line-up. No John Terry - who on Monday faces the Football Association charge for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand - and no Frank Lampard as youth was given its head. And there was bravery in that.

Both eventually came on but this was most definitely a glimpse at Chelsea's future, at the young, creative team that Abramovich craves, that he has demanded no less, and which he has spent so much money to assemble.

Eden Hazard (tricky as ever) 32 million pounds. Oscar (who was excellent) 25 million pounds. Juan Mata (tirelessly creative) 23 million pounds and Fernando Torres, the costliest of them all at 45 million pounds and, once more, a crushing, brooding disappointment at the point of Chelsea's attack. That's a cool 125 million pounds of attack.

The Oscar-Mata-Hazard axis is hugely exciting. "It's the first time we have tried it," Di Matteo said. "It needs more work, more practice to tactically integrate them into our system but it's important to have these players with their technical ability."

Torres's body language, his lack of movement said it all. He had one outstanding opportunity to score and fluffed it completely - taking an 'air shot' when through on goal after yet more superb build-up play by Mata who was instrumental in Chelsea's late goal - from the unlikeliest of source with Ashley Cole scoring for the first time in more than two years.

Inevitably, the Stoke fans sang "Didier Drogba, he would have scored that" at Torres's miss which brought to mind that this was exactly the type of game the now former striker would have grabbed by the scruff of the neck.

"Chelsea will miss Drogba and it will mean a few points less," Jose Mourinho had declared and Di Matteo may well have fretted until Cole's intervention.

It is always dangerous for Chelsea managers when Abramovich is in town and he was in his executive box, sat next to his right-hand man and key director Eugene Tenenbaum as he watched his team huff and puff and weave pretty patterns that hit a stonewall of Stoke resistance stoically marshaled by Ryan Shawcross.

It would appear ridiculous to suggest that Di Matteo is under any pressure but Chelsea are about style as well as substance. Abramovich wants a different way of playing; he wants some bang for his buck and the fact that he was here has to make any manager nervous - just ask the last six who have been sacked by the Russian billionaire.

And a Champions League trophy is no insulation for Di Matteo; not when the man who signs the cheques is demanding more. Chelsea are on top of the Premier League, three points clear, and unbeaten but this was a far from impressive performance. It was also a first win in four matches in all competitions.

Stoke were unfortunate with manager Tony Pulis raging that David Luiz should have been dismissed for a late, reckless tackle on Jonathan Walters. He had a case. And probably had a case when complaining that Branislav Ivanovic had dived in search of a penalty; although he was harsh on Oscar by levelling the same accusation.

"This is most probably the best we have played at Chelsea in the five years we've been in the Premier League," Pulis said and he was right. He will, in particular, rue a header from Walters that crashed against the bar as he met Glenn Whelan's free-kick and also a rash decision by Geoff Cameron to drive a cross at Michael Kightly rather than merely pick out the winger who nevertheless drew a save from Petr Cech with Gary Cahill hacking the rebound clear.

Then there was a shot by substitute Matthew Etherington which was dragged across goal but, despite the attacking intent of both sides, chances were at a premium while Chelsea looked 'narrow' in attack, lacking width to draw out the Stoke defence.

Torres headed over from Mata's corner and that attacking trio behind the Spanish striker worked hard to try and eke out opportunities for him. Sometimes their build-up play was over-elaborate, sometimes they were out of synch, but there is a huge amount of young talent bubbling along with substitute Victor Moses also continuing to impress.

Despite his slight frame, Oscar almost made the breakthrough. Asmir Begovic did well to hold on to a low shot from the 21 year-old who almost capitalised as Moses turned strongly on halfway to power forward and lay the ball off. Oscar cut inside but, again, his shot was held before he another powerful effort skimmed wide.

Mata also went close. He got his angles wrong with one Ivanovic lay-off, side-footing inaccurately and then was only stopped by a fine tackle by Shawcross as he threatened to wriggle free. Finally Chelsea did score. This time Moses laid the ball out to Ivanovic who crossed low. Mata's clever flick made it - turning the ball goalwards for Cole, of all people, to lift his shot over Begovic and into the net.