article: They had only one shot at it, with the masked raider wriggling clear of security in the 88th minute and making his way into the penalty area undetected. This was the second London heist in a week, with the Loftus Road imposter easily identifiable when he whipped off his head gear in front of QPR’s stunned supporters. Cesc Fabregas was the diamond when he worked the opening, following the carefully laid out plans of Eden Hazard and substitute Oscar to pull off this unlikely job for Chelsea. The finish called for precision. Cesc Fabregas arrives late on to convert Eden Hazard's pass and secure all three points for Chelsea at Loftus Road . Fabregas celebrates with Branislav Ivanovic after scoring a late goal which was harsh on QPR, but sent Chelsea seven clear . Jose Mourinho’s team are within inches of the silverware — the Barclays Premier League crown — after this dramatic game of smash and grab. Rob Green had been on guard throughout, but the crestfallen Rangers keeper made the mistake that allowed Chelsea to extend their lead at the top of the table again. You snooze, you lose. It was an important victory for Mourinho, keeping Arsenal at arm’s length by recording their 22nd victory of the season in the Premier League. ‘We have been at the top throughout,’ he declared. Nemanja Matic hugs his goalscoring team-mate Fabregas as Joey Barton and Charlie Austin look on dejected at the final whistle . Charlie Austin lets fly from long range, the best effort for either side in a first half lacking quality in front of goal . Where they rank among the great teams to win the title, such as the Manchester United vintages (1999 and 2009) or Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ (2004) — is of no concern to the Portuguese. Chelsea’s manager has put together a team to win the league, grinding down the opposition until they eventually lift the trophy, probably later this month. They are relentless, we know that. Here at Loftus Road they were met with the resistance of their noisy neighbours QPR, surviving the screams and shouts from the stands to stretch their lead over Arsenal to seven points. Thibaut Courtois made a stunning save to deny Austin, as Chelsea's Belgian goalkeeper kept QPR's forwards at bay . They will meet at the Emirates on April 26, but Chelsea are equipped to survive the sternest and stiffest tests that domestic competition can throw at them. Even Arsene Wenger knows a title-winning team when he sees one. Chelsea had only one shot on target, an improbable statistic for a team that can call upon the dancing feet of Hazard, Willian, substitute Oscar and Fabregas. Joey Barton (above) was everywhere for QPR, but Ramires (below) failed to have much impact. CLICK HERE to see more from Match Zone . QPR: Green 5.5, Isla 6.5 (Dunne 90 mins), Onuoha 7, Caulker 7, Hill 7, Phillips 6.5, Barton 6.5, Sandro 6.5 (Kranjcar 81 6), Henry 6.5, Austin 6.5, Zamora 6.5 (Hoilett 83 5.5) Subs not used: McCarthy, Mitchell, Grego-Cox, Comley . Booked: Zamora, Sandro . Chelsea: Courtois 7.5, Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 6.5, Terry 7, Azpilicueta 7, Ramires 5 (Oscar 56 6), Matic 6, Willian 6.5 (Cuadrado 80 5.5), Fabregas 6.5 (Zouma 90), Hazard 6, Drogba 6. Subs not used: Cech, Luis, Mikel, Brown . Booked: Drogba . Goal: Fabregas 88 . Referee: Andre Marriner . Man of the Match: Courtois . Ratings by Sami Mokbel . Chelsea were careless in possession, knocked out of their rhythm by the boisterous presence of Karl Henry, Sandro and the bristling figure of Joey Barton strung out across the QPR midfield. This defeat feels tough on them because anyone who can sedate Nemanja Matic and Ramires over the course of 90 minutes probably deserves a bit more. The pair were over-run in that Chelsea midfield. Rangers have found an outlet in the willing, emerging figure of Matt Phillips down their right flank. They have to use and abuse him to stand a chance of staying up. Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta wins the ball from QPR's in-form winger Matt Phillips as the league leaders attempted to control the game . He looked to be their one chance of making something happen, a shuttlecock on that halfway line as he flitted in and out of Chelsea’s half. Cesar Azpilicueta will be glad to see the back of him. So will Gary Cahill, the Chelsea defender who bravely intercepted Phillips’s dangerous first-half crosses from that cultured right boot. Phillips was a menace on that wing. He had a massive chance to put Rangers in front at the start of the second half, denied by the anticipation of Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois when the Belgian moved to his left to turn the shot away for a corner. Joey Barton battles with Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas, who was wearing a mask after a collision with Charlie Adam against Stoke last week . When that failed, Rangers went old school, lofting balls into the box in the hope that forwards Bobby Zamora or Charlie Austin would get their head onto one of them. Even against Chelsea captain John Terry and the commanding presence of Cahill, the agricultural approach almost worked. Terry was hammered by QPR fans, choking on the abuse from the stands because of his exchange here with their former centre half Anton Ferdinand in October 2011. Didier Drogba, starting in the absence of Diego Costa and Loic Remy, is tackled by Steven Caulker at Loftus Road . John Terry, whose every touch was booed by the Loftus Road crowd, wins the ball ahead of Bobby Zamora to clear the danger . Chelsea’s captain has learned to deal with it, but the trip to Loftus Road is possibly as poisonous as it gets for Terry. He can take his medicine. Rangers were shooting from anywhere, with Austin’s looping effort falling neatly into Courtois’ arms from long range and later drawing a stunning save to the keeper’s right with another poke from distance. Even Barton shanked an effort wide of Courtois’ goal when he was put clean through after the break. They gave this a right, old-fashioned go. Clint Hill puts in a tough tackle on Chelsea's Brazilian winger Willian as QPR battled hard and matched Chelsea in the first half . Loftus Road was a bear pit, with just under 20,000 Rangers crammed into this stadium to watch them match their west London rivals for blood and guts. Under manager Chris Ramsey, they have renewed their faith. Rangers have given themselves a chance of getting out of the mess at the foot of the table after that handsome 4-1 win at West Brom earlier this month, followed by a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa. There is a noticeable shift in mentality, pulling together as they approach the final five games — West Ham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle and Leicester — of the season. Three are winnable. Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck (left) and owner Roman Abramovich share a joke as they watch their team in action at Loftus Road . The Russian was celebrating his 700th game as Chelsea owner since taking over the west London club in 2003 . Terry has to stretch to stop the ball getting through to Zamora as the hosts created the better chances in the first half . Gary Cahill stuck tight to Austin as the QPR front two caused plenty of problems with their direct style of play . Terry clashed with Austin on a number of occasions, in particular when he felt the QPR striker had followed through on Courtois . Chelsea are masters at this, calling on the pedigree of Hazard, in his 100 appearance in the Premier League, Oscar and the timing of Fabregas to secure this narrow win. It was their first chance, the only time in this game when they properly opened up the central defensive pairing of Steven Caulker and Nedum Onuoha. The man in the mask was there to finish the job, scoring in the league for the first time since Chelsea won 2-0 on the road at Stoke on December 22. ‘It’s like failing a driving test,’ admitted QPR’s manager. Here at Loftus Road, Fabregas turned out to be the getaway driver. A QPR fan shouts abuse at Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Oscar as the player prepares to take a corner late on . Buck and Abramovich watch the action unfold at Loftus Road as Chelsea take another step closer to the Premier League title .
highlights: Cesc Fabregas takes advantage of Rob Green error to win the game for Chelsea three minutes from time .
  Chelsea had lacked a threat in the absence of Diego Costa and Loic Remy, with Didier Drogba up front .
  Before goal QPR came closest to scoring, with Thibaut Courtois saving well from Charlie Austin and Matt Phillips .
  Jose Mourinho's side are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand .
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