Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough: Premier League - as it happened

Fabregas chips in a free-kick and finds Cahill, but his chested pass does not find Alonso. Chelsea recycle the ball and Willian almost delivers a perfect ball for Fabregas, but Boro just about clear.

An emotional substitution from Conte as Chelsea legend John Terry comes on for David Luiz.

Changes for both sides as Chalobah comes on for Pedro while Gestede replaces Negredo.

Moses comes close to making it four but Guzan stands strong to parry the ball to safety.

A slight worry for Chelsea as Cahill is in some discomfort on the ground, but it seems that the England international is only suffering from cramp.

A change for Chelsea as the majestic Eden Hazard is replaced by Willian. 20 minutes left to play, 3-0.

Hazard glides past Leadbitter and pokes the ball through to Luiz, who in turn sprays the ball wide to Fabregas. One look up from the Spaniard is all he needs to find Matic, who chests the ball down and stabs it through Guzan's legs.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough (Matic)

Fabio receives a yellow card for tripping Hazard , who was in full flow. 60 minutes gone, Chelsea are just passing the ball round for fun, Boro look to have accepted their fate.

It's training ground stuff for Chelsea. Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas both have long range efforts that trouble Guzan. The former then meets a corner delivered by the latter, but it goes wide.

Double change for Boro as Leadbitter and Bamford replace Forshaw and Traore.

Azpilicueta is more of a central attacking midfielder than centre half tonight. The Spaniard pick the ball up in space and lets fly from all of 25 yards, but Guzan sees it wide.

Alonso then charges forward and latches onto a Pedro flick, but his cross-cum-shot doesn't find the net or Costa.

We are back under way at Stamford Bridge. Can Boro fight back, or will Chelsea run out comfortable victors?

It looks likely to be the latter, as Pedro hits the bar less than a minute into the second half.

Half-time: Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough

Chelsea are cruising, Middlesbrough are sinking.

Is that a wave goodbye to the Teessiders, Diego?

Alonso doubled Chelsea's lead and perhaps sent Middlesbrough down in the process.

The moment Costa put Chelsea in front...

Alonso has been threatening down the left hand side from the first whistle.

Azpilicueta's dinked chip is met by the onrushing Alonso, who manages to squirm the ball through the keeper's legs and double his side's lead. That's curtains for Boro, surely.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough (Alonso)

Lovely, intricate play from Chelsea almost unlocks the door for Costa, but Pedro's pass is slightly overcooked. Conte's men are toying with their opponents at times and are in complete control of proceedings.

Fabregas almost sets Pedro away but Gibson manages to clear.

Boro almost gifted an equaliser as Luiz misjudges a header but Cahill blocks De Roon's shot well. Chelsea charge up the other end and win a free-kick as Friend clips Moses.

It's been coming.

Fabregas' dinked chip is deflected into the path of Costa, who calmly rolls the ball between Guzan's legs to put Chelsea in front. Boro, as it stands, are going down.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough (Costa)

Chelsea come close to making it 1-0 but Friend does excellently to put off Costa in the nick of time. Brilliant work by Hazard to fashion the opening.

Fabregas gets his effort horribly wrong as he found expertly in space by Hazard. The Spaniard should have done much better with the chance but skewed his shot well wide of Guzan's post. Still 0-0.

Luiz attempts to curl a free-kick past Guzan but the Brazilian sends the set-piece hig and over.

Luiz then aims a ball into Pedro's path, but the ball is cut out by Friend.

Costa almost latches onto a Azpilicueta cross but just can't connect cleanly enough. Boro showing flashes of fight but Chelsea are very much in control at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea put the pressure on once more as Fabregas sends Alonso darting into the area. The Spaniard fired a ball across the box but nobody could connect.

At the other end, Boro force a corner but it comes to nothing. There is a brief stoppage in play as Fabregas is clipped by Clayton.

What a start from Chelsea! An incredible, flowing move that involved nearly all in Blues hands Alonso an opportunity, which he crashes onto the bar. Mesmeric, one-touch football from Conte's side, who are on a mission tonight.

We are under way at Stamford Bridge.

The teams are in the tunnel, kick-off just moments away.

Some pre-match thought from Antonio Conte:

"It's important to look at ourselves. Today we have to play a tough game against a team struggling to stay up, we have a good chance to take three points and pay great attention to win the game."

A little update on Chelsea's little enforcer. Will he be missed tonight?

Oh dear. The Middlesbrough team bus has crashed. Unfortunately for them, the wheels on their season came off a while ago.

Some pre-match thoughts from Cesc Fabregas:

"We have to do our job: play very well to beat a Middlesbrough side who want to stay in the league. It will be tough.

"We have to be on top of our game today. Winning would mean a lot to the team and the club. Hopefully we can do that."

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea substitutes: Begovic, Terry, Zouma, Ake, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Willian.

Middlesbrough substitutes: Dimi, Barragan, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Guedioura, Bamford, Gestede.

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses, Fabregas, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard.

Cesc Fabregas takes the place of N'Golo Kante, who has failed to fully recover from his thigh problem.

Middlesbrough: Guzan, Fabio, Chambers, Gibson, Friend (c), De Roon, Clayton, Forshaw, Traore, Negredo, Downing.

TEAM NEWS

TEAM NEWS

Middlesbrough have a number of injury concerns going into the game against the champions-elect.

"We've got Victor Valdes still struggling with a rib injury," Boro's caretaker boss Steve Agnew informed reporters at his pre-match press conference.

"Grant Leadbitter is back in training, as is Adlene Guedioura who had a groin strain. Gaston Ramirez has a pelvic problem, and we'll see tomorrow about Dani Ayala, who has an ankle injury."

Chelsea could be without two of their key stars for the clash against Boro. David Luiz and N'Golo Kante are struggling with knocks and have given Conte food for thought.

"Thibaut trained today and yesterday, I don't see any problems with him,'' Conte said during his press conference on Friday.

"This week we are struggling with two situations, David [Luiz] and N'Golo, but there are three days before the game and I have time to make the best decisions about them.

"N'Golo has a little muscular problem with his thigh, not a great problem, so for this reason I must see the best way for him."

Good evening and welcome to IB Times UK's live coverage of Chelsea vs Middlesbrough.

Victory for either team would prove vital for both the Blues and Boro. Antonio Conte's men will all but wrap up the Premier League title with three points against Steve Agnew's men, who could be relegated if they fail to avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Stay with IB Times UK for the latest team news, updates and reaction on what could be a momentous day for the Londoners and the Teessiders.