Chelsea 2-1 QPR: Eden Hazard slots home second half penalty to edge out struggling Rangers in west London derby

If Oscar’s finish was perfect in its execution here at Stamford Bridge, and my what a goal it was, the overall performance of this relentless Chelsea side was not far off that either.

Jose Mourinho will probably curse his players for allowing Charlie Austin to level the score after 61 minutes with a quite brilliant flick of his right foot. But this remained another impressive victory thanks, in the end, to a reckless challenge from Eduardo Vargas that invited Eden Hazard to respond by scoring from the penalty spot.

Mourinho would probably see criticism in any comparison with his first championship winning Chelsea team but after little more than a year into his second spell here at Stamford Bridge he might have just succeeded in creating something even better.

Eden Hazard celebrates what turned out to be the winning goal in the west London encounter between Chelsea and QPR

Charlie Austin jumps in the air after scoring his side's equaliser in the 62nd minute

Austin's QPR team-mates rush to celebrate with the striker as their side draws level with the Premier League leaders

Oscar celebrates his goal after putting his side 1-0 up against west London rivals Queens Park Rangers

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 6.5; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Filipe Luis 6.5; Matic 8, Fabregas 7.5; Willian 7 (Drogba 64 - 6), Oscar 8.5, Hazard 7.5 (Ramires 90); Diego Costa 7 (Schurrle 78 - 6)

Subs not used: Cech, Zouma, Ake, Ramires, Salah

QPR (4-5-1): Green 7; Isla 6.5, Caulker 6, Dunne 6.5, Suk-Young 5.5; Vargas 7.5, Henry 7, Sandro 6, Fer 7 (Traore 83), Hoilett 5.5 (Zamora 60 - 6); Austin 7.5

Subs not used: Murphy, Hill, Phillips, Wright-Phillips, Krancjar

Referee: Mike Jones 6

Attendance: 41,468

That first team was terrific. Powerful as well as potent, Sir Alex Ferguson marvelled at their machine-like consumption of consecutive Premier League titles.

But there is something about this current crop of players that demands more attention. Something that just makes them that much easier on the eye while maintaining that ruthless quality that is enabling them to maintain this impressive unbeaten run.

Mourinho’s teams are always well organised and they also work incredibly hard but the balance here between craft and hard graft is a joy to watch.

Clearly, the acquisition of Cesc Fabregas has made an enormous difference, his poise, precision and vision giving them something in midfield Chelsea could not even claim to have had when Frank Lampard was driving them towards trophy after trophy.

It is not just Fabregas, of course, because this is far from a one man team. It is a team that boasts so much flair and invention in players like Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar but also has the power and strength of Diego Costa as well as a brilliantly-drilled back four.

Oscar’s goal was a combination of both qualities. It might have been the finesse of Fabregas that saw the ball delivered into the path of Oscar but it owed much to Costa’s strength to hold the ball up for what was a terrific one-two between the Spaniards.

But the finish that followed from Oscar in the 32nd minute of this enthralling encounter was just extraordinary, the Brazilian using the outside of his right foot to curl the ball across the face of the QPR goal and beyond the reach of a diving Rob Green via the inside of the far post.

The fact that he also had to squeeze the ball in front of Richard Dunne demanded even more precision. But it was the bend of the ball that was most breathtaking, with photographs that were taken from certain angles highlighting the astoinishing flight of the ball.