Cesc Fabregas praised the character of Chelsea after the hard-fought 1-0 win over QPR at Loftus Road on Sunday.

The Spaniard scored the only goal of the game in the 88th minute from Chelsea's first shot on target which was vital in retaining the Blues' seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Fabregas told Sky Sports: "It was vital, we are playing for the most important trophy of the season. We were up there from the first day, so we want to continue there. It was a fantastic time to score and this shows the character of the team.

"It was difficult with the wind, and the pitch was very dry, but we showed great mentality and coped well in the difficult moments."