CHELSEA midfielder Nemanja Matic admits Sunderland have established a template that other clubs could follow in an attempt to frustrate the Premier League leaders.

Jose Mourinho’s side failed to score for the first time this season as Sunderland repeatedly pulled back nine players to the edge of their own penalty area in Saturday’s goalless draw.

The Black Cats also performed a high-tempo pressing game to deny their opponents the time and space required to craft passes, and Matic admits his Chelsea team-mates will have to develop a way of overcoming such tactics in the future.

“We knew that Sunderland could create us some problems,” said the Serbia international. “We were ready for that, but as you know, we didn’t score a goal and without goals you cannot win.

“They were compact, and were on the 16 (edge of the penalty area) with ten players. It was difficult to find a space there. We didn’t find the space, but in the next game this cannot happen – we have to score.

“Of course, now every team is going to defend against us. We know that, but we are ready for that and we will find a space to score.”

Chelsea’s next game sees them host Tottenham on Wednesday, but they will have to take on their London rivals without their star striker, Diego Costa, who picked up his fifth booking of the season at the Stadium of Light.

“Of course we need everybody,” said Matic. “But we have good strikers. We have Didier (Drogba) and we have (Loic) Remy, so I’m not scared.”