Chelsea 2-1 QPR: Hazard penalty sways fierce London derby
Chelsea needed a late Eden Hazard penalty to maintain their unblemished home record in the Premier League as the leaders beat QPR 2-1.
Charlie Austin's second-half equaliser had looked set to deny Jose Mourinho's side a fifth consecutive league win at Stamford Bridge after Oscar had opened the scoring.
However, after Hazard was clumsily bundled over by Eduardo Vargas, the Belgian stroked home the winner to maintain Chelsea's four-point lead at the summit.
Austin backheeled home just after the hour to cancel out Oscar's opener as the in-form QPR striker seemed set to be the hero for the Loftus Road outfit.
With an under-par Chelsea on course to drop points for the second league game running, Vargas collided with Hazard just inside the area with referee Mike Jones pointing to the spot.
Hazard then had the final say 15 minutes from time as he tucked away the penalty to ensure Chelsea clinched maximum points and deny Harry Redknapp what would have been an impressive draw.
Chelsea began well and forced a series of corners early on, with leading scorer Diego Costa - back in the starting XI after a four-game absence due to a combination of injury and illness - almost getting on the end of Cesc Fabregas' long ball four minutes in.
Oscar saw a shot roll wide of Rob Green's left-hand post soon after before Branislav Ivanovic found the side-netting from Willian's delivery.
QPR – whose one change saw Junior Hoilett replace Bobby Zamora – produced their first effort on goal via the in-form Austin, whose header looped over the crossbar 15 minutes in.
While it was a rare foray into the Chelsea half, Redknapp's side had done well to stifle the hosts and initially deny the likes of Oscar, Willian and Hazard space to create openings.
However, after Fabregas' long-range strike tested Green from distance, Oscar opened the deadlock after 32 minutes courtesy of a sublime finish with the outside of the boot.
Played in down the right by Fabregas, the Brazil international found the bottom-left corner via the inside of the post to send Chelsea in ahead at the break.
Hazard almost doubled Chelsea's advantage early in the second half but failed to make contact with Willian's inviting cross as Redknapp opted to bring on Zamora for Hoilett just short of the hour mark.
Within two minutes of the change, QPR were level thanks to Austin's fifth Premier League goal of the season.
Following a swift counter from Vargas, Austin was able to cleverly divert Leroy Fer's strike past a helpless Thibaut Courtois.
Mourinho then opted for an attacking change as Didier Drogba replaced Willian, but it was the ever-dangerous Hazard who was the match-winner.
Having been brought down by Vargas, the Belgium international sent Green the wrong way from the spot to get Chelsea back to winning ways in the league after their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last time out.
Chelsea needed a late Eden Hazard penalty to maintain their unblemished home record in the Premier League as the leaders beat QPR 2-1.
Charlie Austin's second-half equaliser had looked set to deny Jose Mourinho's side a fifth consecutive league win at Stamford Bridge after Oscar had opened the scoring.
However, after Hazard was clumsily bundled over by Eduardo Vargas, the Belgian stroked home the winner to maintain Chelsea's four-point lead at the summit.
Austin backheeled home just after the hour to cancel out Oscar's opener as the in-form QPR striker seemed set to be the hero for the Loftus Road outfit.
With an under-par Chelsea on course to drop points for the second league game running, Vargas collided with Hazard just inside the area with referee Mike Jones pointing to the spot.
Hazard then had the final say 15 minutes from time as he tucked away the penalty to ensure Chelsea clinched maximum points and deny Harry Redknapp what would have been an impressive draw.
Chelsea began well and forced a series of corners early on, with leading scorer Diego Costa - back in the starting XI after a four-game absence due to a combination of injury and illness - almost getting on the end of Cesc Fabregas' long ball four minutes in.
Oscar saw a shot roll wide of Rob Green's left-hand post soon after before Branislav Ivanovic found the side-netting from Willian's delivery.
QPR – whose one change saw Junior Hoilett replace Bobby Zamora – produced their first effort on goal via the in-form Austin, whose header looped over the crossbar 15 minutes in.
While it was a rare foray into the Chelsea half, Redknapp's side had done well to stifle the hosts and initially deny the likes of Oscar, Willian and Hazard space to create openings.
However, after Fabregas' long-range strike tested Green from distance, Oscar opened the deadlock after 32 minutes courtesy of a sublime finish with the outside of the boot.
Played in down the right by Fabregas, the Brazil international found the bottom-left corner via the inside of the post to send Chelsea in ahead at the break.
Hazard almost doubled Chelsea's advantage early in the second half but failed to make contact with Willian's inviting cross as Redknapp opted to bring on Zamora for Hoilett just short of the hour mark.
Within two minutes of the change, QPR were level thanks to Austin's fifth Premier League goal of the season.
Following a swift counter from Vargas, Austin was able to cleverly divert Leroy Fer's strike past a helpless Thibaut Courtois.
Mourinho then opted for an attacking change as Didier Drogba replaced Willian, but it was the ever-dangerous Hazard who was the match-winner.
Having been brought down by Vargas, the Belgium international sent Green the wrong way from the spot to get Chelsea back to winning ways in the league after their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last time out.
