Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea's gritty 1-0 win at QPR had all the hallmarks of champion-elect.

Mourinho's side moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after Cesc Fabregas's 88th-minute goal settled a scrappy west London derby at Loftus Road.

The Blues need 12 more points from their remaining seven matches to be certain of claiming the English crown for the first time since 2010 and, although they were well below their best on Sunday, Mourinho was encouraged by the way they emerged unscathed from a tricky test.