John Terry insists that complacency will not creep in at Chelsea

By Nick Price

Chelsea captain John Terry has warned his team-mates to stave off complacency and implored his side to build upon their lead at the top of the Premier League.

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The Blues sit five points clear of second-placed Arsenal after Terry's goal earned his side a hard fought victory over title holders Manchester United on Sunday.

The captain wants his side to use the experience of title wins in 2005 and 2006, where Chelsea led throughout both campaigns, as the basis for a title tilt.

"We're not going to settle for a five-point gap, we want to increase that lead," Terry told the Press Association.

"It's encouraging that we won both our titles leading from the front.

"That's in the back of our minds and it could be key for us. Fingers crossed we can do the same again."

Key to their previous domestic successes were Chelsea's ability to take points off their other title rivals, and Terry sees these clashes as paramount.

"We have already won more games against the other teams in the 'Big Four' than we did last season and that gives us confidence," he added.

"It's a good psychological lift for us because it's where we lost it last year."

Terry warned that, despite their comfortable position, Chelsea can not afford to count on their title rivals dropping points - especially with Chelsea set to miss several key players in January due to the African Cup of Nations.

He said: "Arsenal are looking good at the moment. They are free-flowing and scoring goals like they always do but when they pick up injuries they tend to miss some key players.

"Manchester United have some tough games coming up as well. It's important before we lose the African players in January that we build a big cushion.

"The message from this defeat will be for United to kick on. They certainly won't give up. We were in their position last year and the year before that and there was no way we were going to give up.

"They've had a few injuries in their squad and missed a few key players, but once everyone is fit and well they'll be raring to go and will push us and Arsenal to the end."