Latest: Bournemouth 0 Chelsea 1 – Hazard strike puts Chelsea ahead
Eden Hazard put Chelsea ahead in the second half as their dominance was finally rewarded.
The Belgian ran on to an Alvaro Morata pass, making the most of a mistake by Bournemouth captain Simon Francis, to crash in a left-foot strike at the near post.
Cherries substitute Jordan Ibe then had a fierce 20-yard strike deflected just over the bar as the hosts finally began to show some ambition.
They were happy to play on the counter-attack before then but Morata could easily have had a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea controlled the game without managing to find a breakthrough.
He dragged one shot wide, had an effort controversially disallowed for offside and also had a strike well saved by former Blues goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Morata’s best chance saw him played in by Hazard after a shocking Begovic clearance, but the Spaniard shot narrowly wide of the near post.
He did find the back of the net from close range after Begovic failed to hold a David Luiz shot, but Cesar Azpilicueta was ruled offside as he challenged the keeper.
Morata also had an effort tipped over while Cesc Fabregas also went close in the latter stages.
Luiz had to block a shot by Benik Afobe in a rare foray forward by the hosts, but Thibaut Courtois did not have a save to make.
Hazard’s composed finish, after Morata showed great strength and awareness, gave Antonio Conte’s side a deserved lead after the interval.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger; Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro, Hazard, Morata.
Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Christensen, Drinkwater, Ampadu, Willian, Batshuyai.
