Chelsea lead new-entrants Stoke City 1-0 at half time courtesy a Jose Bosingwa strike, in the Premiership clash at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

The Portuguese full-back put the visitors ahead in the 37th minute as he beautifully controlled a delightfully chipped cross from Frank Lampard and slammed an angular shot from right side of the box with a deflection off Potters captain Andy Griffin taking the ball into the net.

Tony Pulis’ side had frustrated the mighty Blues for long periods with Thomas Sorensen having a busy afternoon in the Stoke goal.

Stoke suffered a blow before the kick-off as long-throw expert Rory Delap failed a late fitness test, and Leon Cort started the game. Chelsea had Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou in the starting line-up while Nicolas Anelka took a place on the bench.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side controlled the first half, but were denied by Denmark international Sorensen on two notable occasions, first when the former Aston Villa keeper tipped over a Michael Ballack strike from 20 yards. The 32-year-old then made a fine save to deny Didier Drogba.

Stoke, who held Liverpool goalless last weekend at Anfield, also threatened occasionally through Mamady Sidibe, whose header following a corner in the 36th minute, was saved by Petr Cech following a corner kick.

Teams:

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Cort, Diagne-Faye, Higginbotham, Olofinjana, Diao, Lawrence, Cresswell, Kitson, Sidibe.

Substitutes: Simonsen, Sonko, Tonge, Soares, Faye, Whelan, Fuller.

Chelsea: Cech, Terry, Cole A, Bosingwa, Alex, Malouda, Ballack, Lampard, Mikel, Kalou, Drogba.

Substitutes: Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, Bridge, Ivanovic, Belletti, Anelka, Sinclair.