Conte praises Chelsea reaction after controversial Swansea goal

Gylfi Sigurdsson had just cancelled out a Diego Costa opener when Leroy Fer robbed Cahill and beat Thibaut Courtois to put Swansea in front in the Premier League game at the Liberty Stadium.

Instead, Ivanovic was allowed to roam free down the right with Swansea’s attacking threat nearly nil in a first half which Chelsea dominated.

The Premier League champions have only earned a point at Anfield since there 2-0 victory in May 2000 and they found themselves behind in the 15th minute when Firminho cleverly finished past Kasper Schmeichel.

Conte felt Swansea’s second goal should not have been allowed because of Fer’s challenge on Cahill.

Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin opted for a surprise change of tactics with a 5-4-1 formation, but if his plan was to contain Antonio Conte’s men in the early stages, it didn’t work as Willian’s fierce drive was parried behind by home keeper Lukasz Fabianski. “I have spoken with him in the dressing room”.

But two minutes before the break, it was Costa who missed a glorious chance as he met Willian’s corner at the back post – only to somehow sidefoot his effort back across goal when it seemed easier to score.

He said: “It’s a huge disappointment because I think we had control of the game most of the time and their two goals came from our mistakes, so obviously it’s disappointing”.

The left-back looked furious as he left the pitch but Guidolin says the matter is resolved after he apologised.

Chelsea are in second place on 10 points. Two lapses of concentration at the back cost Chelsea their flawless start to the Premier League and puts serious pressure on centerback Gary Cahill with the impending introduction of deadline day signing David Luiz.

“Just looking at the injury John Terry got, I’d be surprised if he starts on Friday”, Sinclair said on Chelsea TV.

Diego Costa scored his second goal of the game with an acrobatic finish in the 81 minute to clinch a draw for the Blues.

Oscar headed over from point-blank range as Chelsea pushed forward, but they salvaged a point when Ivanovic’s shot ballooned into the air off Jordi Amat and Costa struck in sensational style.

“At that moment my team needed a reaction”.

“You must kill the game”. It was forced upon Guidolin by circumstance, but it was also illustrative of the situation Swansea now find themselves in: they have a tactically astute manager and a good set of players, but there’s still some distance between the two.

Defensive mistakes saw the Blues concede two goals in five minutes but the 47-year-old decided not to blame individual players after the game.

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“From the first to the 94th minute, he took a lot of kicks”, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said. “But I also think that referees must see and permit Diego to play his football”.