Chelsea v Norwich - Giroud gives Champions League-chasing Blues win

After seeing today's Championship results, particularly the one at the DW Stadium, I can't help but feel we've been short-changed with this game tonight.

In case you missed that stunning match between Wigan and Hull, have a read all abut it here.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke talking to Sky Sports: "Two days ago we were relegated, so not happy days but I am pleased with the reaction of my boys.

"We were not far away from winning a point The commitment and desire was really good.

"I just have compliments for my boys. On a good day we are competitive against the best teams in the world but once we are not spot on, we are not."

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, speaking to Sky Sports: "At this stage of the season results are critical and we didn't concede any chances of note to let them score. We were professional. I want more but that can wait. Where we are at as a team and where we are in the table it is all about the result.

"We need to move the ball quicker and be more mobile with our rotations. We have done it in parts this season but if we want to move on it needs to be better. But I don't want to be too critical after a win.

"We didn't give them anything to worry us. We had 10-15 minutes in the second half where we were slow and I didn't like it but after that we got it back. There was a bit more personality in our game but we can improve."

On Olivier Giroud: "He is always going to give you a desire to get in there for the team. he had a few half chances in the central area. That is what you have to do when he is in the team - use his attributes. He has scored important goals. He has never given me a problem, always trained well. His professionalism is always good.

On the top four: "It is tough one to call. This is the Premier League and it is not easy. Rather than give you a pointless answer we take our three points, worry about ourselves, watch the others teams and think about the FA Cup."

Scrabble, eh. These modern footballers, they're so rock and roll.

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud speaking to Sky Sports: "We needed to be patient and move the ball quick against a team who play a deep block. We created a lot of chances but it was important to score before half-time. We should have scored more goals as we had a lot of possession. The team was a bit under pressure also because we know we needed the win definitely so we are happy.

“I missed some things some times that I wouldn’t miss usually but maybe I lost a bit of confidence. My desire to score was bigger though so I tried to stay focused. It was a great cross from Christian [Pulisic] so I scored the header. I will always believe and work hard. I am very pleased with the goal and it helped the team win the game.

“We really wanted to bounce back and we played a good team against Sheffield United. We have done mistakes obviously so we tried to not do it again. This determination to do well tonight was very high. The most important thing was the three points so we feel relief now.”

On his goal celebration, where he appeared to be writing something: "Oh I play scrabble with N’Golo Kante! That’s it."

So that is eight straight defeats for Norwich and 25 losses in a league campaign for the first time in their history.

All in all a season to forget.

Norwich weren't humbled as they were against West Ham at the weekend.

They dug in and kept it to a one-goal game. Offered nothing at the other end, mind.

This confirms the Canaries will finish bottom of the table, which is spot on for their ability level.

The points are far more important that the performance for Chelsea and they have those banked now. They are four points clear of Leicester and Manchester United in the race for the Champions League.

Instantly forgettable.

Three minutes of injury time to endure.

Krul drawn into action again. Willian fires a free-kick towards the bottom corner of his goal, forcing the keeper to get down and save smartly.

Norwich make another sub, sending on teenager Josh Martin for Lukas Rupp.

Just before this Emi Buendia was yellow carded for a foul near his own box.

Chris: Man of the match....... the ball, it is the only thing on the pitch with any movement or life. Awful Chelsea show, Norwich will score, look out

Reece James sure can deliver a ball. He gets in down the right and fires a low ball right into the corridor but Tammy Abraham moved late and the delightful ball goes begging.

Giroud heads off, with Tammy Abraham replacing him.

Almost the game-sealing goal.

Willian's driven low ball to the near post is met by Giroud, but he can only poke his shot past the post.

It is going to be the striker's last act too.

Chelsea might actually be feeling a tad nervy here. They have absolutely dominated this game territorially, but with only a one-goal advantage they are there to be hit by a suckerpunch smash and grab by an opponent with nothing to lose.

Another couple of changes for Chelsea too as Reece James is on for Marcos Alonso and Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Christian Pulisic.

Shortly after Alonso draws another save from Krul with a back-post header, Norwich send on the reinforcements.

Teemu Pukki, Marco Stiepermann and Adam Idah join the action. Onel Hernandez, Josip Drmic and Alex Tettey depart. Well, at least Daniel Farke is trying to give it some kind of a go in the final quarter.