STOKE -- Antonio Conte joked that he might consider playing Gary Cahill as a striker after the England international netted a vital late goal in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Stoke City to preserve the Blues' 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Cahill reacted quickest to an Erik Pieters mistake to lash a shot beyond Lee Grant with three minutes remaining at the bet365 Stadium, having earlier conceded a penalty with a push that allowed Jonathan Walters to cancel out Willian's clever free-kick opener in the 13th minute.
The goal was Cahill's fourth of the season and his 23rd in total since joining Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers in January 2012, and after the match a smiling Conte said: "For me Gary can play also as a centre-forward.