Since a 2-0 loss to the Toffees at Goodison Park on 17 March 2019, the Blues have gone 18 games without defeat in the third month of the year, picking up 16 wins and drawing the other two games in this fine run.

We looked set for more disappointment two weeks after that away defeat at Everton when we trailed by a goal at relegation-threatened Cardiff City with six minutes left. However, Cesar Azpilicueta levelled things up with a close-range header before substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek made it 2-1 in stoppage time when he nodded Willian’s inviting cross into the bottom corner of the Cardiff net,

A year later, we went into our FA Cup fifth-round tie against runaway league leaders Liverpool on the back of a disappointing February in which we won only one of five games. The Blues turned things around though with a fine team display as Willian fired us ahead and Kepa Arrizabalaga produced a stunning triple-save before Ross Barkley sealed a 2-0 victory with a superb right-footed finish at the end of a lung-busting run which he had begun well inside his own half.

Five days later, we produced another excellent performance at Stamford Bridge as Mason Mount, Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud found the net in a comprehensive 4-0 win over Everton in the Premier League. Unfortunately, the momentum that we were beginning to build from those wins against the Merseyside duo came to a screeching halt when the Covid-19 outbreak resulted in the season being suspended a few days later.

In the midst of the pandemic, all five of Chelsea’s games in March 2021 took place in the eerie atmosphere of empty stadiums although our excellent form during the month continued.

The two Merseyside clubs were again seen off by the Blues as Mount’s fine finish secured a 1-0 win at Anfield while a Ben Godfrey own goal and penalty by Jorginho delivered a 2-0 triumph over Everton in west London.

Our first league visit to Elland Road for 18 years ended in a goalless draw with Leeds United but 2-0 home wins against Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League and Sheffield United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup saw us go the entire month without conceding a goal.

In Chelsea’s first match of March 2022, Luton Town twice took the lead in our FA Cup fifth-round tie at Kenilworth Road but second-half strikes by Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku saw off the Championship side 3-2.

We then reeled off three straight wins in the Premier League with Kai Havertz bagging four of our goals. The German got a brace after Reece James’ stunning opener in our 4-0 demolition of Burnley at Turf Moor; he rounded off a 3-1 win at Norwich City; and netted a superb late winner as Newcastle United were beaten for the 10th consecutive time at Stamford Bridge.

A 2-1 victory at Lille in the Champions League and 2-0 win at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-finals saw the Blues end the month on a perfect note.

League victories against Leeds United and Leicester City and the Champions League comeback win over Borussia Dortmund earlier this month extended Chelsea’s March winning streak to 11 games and although we were unable to continue that run last weekend, our regular spring surge should give us some positive momentum to build on as we head towards the closing weeks of this season.

CHELSEA'S UNBEATEN RUN IN MARCH