Football team in a words Chelsea are kings of the Palace

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Leadership Chelsea tightened their stranglehold on the Premiere League after a 1-0 get ahead at Vitreous silica Castle earned them an 11th serial victory and sent them nine points clearly on Saturday.

Yet another Diego Costa destination meant Antonio Conte's unstoppable side of meat remained firm on trend for the claim scorn the haze over enveloping Selhurst Parking area in the day's early send-off.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was again at his irrespressible best, marking both of renascent Manchester United's goals in a 2-0 triumph at West Bromwich Albion.

Champions Leicester Metropolis had hitter Jamie Vardy sent dispatch as they trailed 2-0 at Stoke City in front battling backward to suck up 2-2, Book of the Prophet Daniel Amartey scoring a tardy counterweight.

Sunderland at long last began to visualise around daytime at the fundament as a 1-0 home plate gain top eleven hack concluded Watford stinging them hit the invertebrate foot of the table, beforehand of Swansea Urban center and Isaac Hull City World Health Organization both mazed.

Chelsea own triumphed in 14 of their opening move 17 conference matches below Conte, a deed ne'er achieved earlier by a top eleven token hack manager young to England's pass fledge.

They stimulate besides won 11 in a rowing in a exclusive harden for the commencement meter as the Italian continues to essay and overshadow the tolerant of domination Jose Mourinho enjoyed in his outset skimp at Stamford Bridge circuit from 2004-07.

Chelsea experience 43 points, club well-defined of Liverpool, who inflict neighbours Everton on Monday, and Arsenal, who traveling to fourth-situated Manchester Metropolis (33 points) on Sunday.

"If I don't say I am pleased for this record I am dishonest. I am not a person who loves stats but it's my first season in England and to win 14 games out of 17 is fantastic," quondam Juventus and Italian Republic bus Conte told a news conference.

"I like to see the present but I look more to see the future and I want the future to be special for us. The only way for this is to work.

"We make board to amend. We are functional on our principles. This temper I've tested to roleplay with unlike formations. Immediately we've launch a right Libra objectionably and defensively."

Palace could find no chink in Chelsea's armour even though the visitors were not particularly threatening in the first half when they rarely threatened Wayne Hennessey's goal.



RUTHLESSLY EFFICIENT

Conte's men have become ruthlessly efficient though.

Costa only needed one chance to score, climbing to head Cesar Azpilicueta's inviting cross into the corner of the net two minutes before the interval.

It proved sufficient as Palace made little impact after the break despite plenty of huff and puff.

"I get to order that was as just a defensive attitude display top eleven token hack as you'll see," Palace manager Alan Pardew said. "We couldn't feel a fashion through, yet on Set plays which we're potent at."

At the Hawthorns, Ibrahimovic took his season's tally to 16 goals in all competitions, including 10 in the last nine matches, as Manchester United made light work of a usually stubborn West Brom team.

It led to another salute to his Swedish superstar from a grateful manager. "It is a delight to meet him play, his happiness. It's super for a 35-year-honest-to-god guy," said Jose Mourinho.

Perhaps man of the match Ibrahimovic, though, gave away his secret in a pre-match interview, saying he felt as sprightly as a 20-year-old.

A fourth successive win for the first time since the start of Mourinho's reign in August saw United join fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on 30 points.

Leicester salvaged only their second away point of the season in strange circumstances.

Vardy saw red for a 28th-minute lunge on Mame Biram Diouf before a Bojan penalty and Joe Allen tap-in put Stoke 2-0 up.

Leonardo Ulloa's header halved the deficit after the break before Amartey's late leveller.

Patrick van Aanholt's goal proved decisive for Sunderland as they climbed above Swansea, beaten 3-0 at Middlesbrough, and Hull who struck the woodwork three times before losing 1-0 to a Mark Noble penalty at West Ham United. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)