Chelsea kept their title hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 victory away to Sunderland when the two teams met in their Premiership encounter on Saturday.

John Terry put his side in the lead by the 10th minute, heading home Frank Lampard's corner to score his first goal for Chelsea in over 19 months. However Sunderland manager Roy Keane will be pleased by the effort shown by his side as Chelsea had to defend deep to deny the equalizer.

Chelsea dominated the possession in the opening minutes of the match and took the lead in the 10th minute when Terry escaped his marker Kenwyne Jones before meeting a curling Lampard corner with his head at the near post to score his first goal since the opening day of the last season.

Sunderland have being in good form at home throughout the season and the hosts pressed forward in search of an equalizer. Roy O'Donovan and Andy Reid started to take control of the game in the midfield with Jones once again proving to be a menace in the air for the opposition defenders.

Reid played in Edwards with a great ball but the midfielder was unable to hit the target. The Irish international almost grabbed the equalizer minutes later but his curling free kick was kept away with a superb save by Cudicini.

Sunderland dominated the chances in the second half as Reid, Grant Leadbitter and Danny Collins came very close to restoring parity but Chelsea hung on to claim their ninth victory in last 12 matches to remain in touch with Manchester United and Arsenal at the top of the table.