The reserves suffered a second straight league defeat against Stoke on Monday night, despite a spirited performance. Mineiro played 90 minutes.

A Tom Soares goal just over 10 minutes from time was added to at the death by Danny Pugh to hand the experienced Stoke side, featuring a host of first team regulars, a narrow and hard-fought victory.

Miroslav Stoch missed a second-half penalty for Chelsea.

All the talk before the game was about Mineiro, who was making a first start in Chelsea colours, following on from his first team debut at the weekend, and he was quickly involved in the action from his central midfield spot.

The game was being played on a greasy surface, useful for passing football but a little troublesome underfoot.

Fifteen minutes in, the Blues were on the back foot, forced to defend some aerial Stoke attacks, little surprise given that forwards Richard Cresswell and Vincent Pericard towered over their markers Liam Bridcutt and Jeffrey Bruma, but the Chelsea youngsters were coping well.

A first clear cut chance came after 18 minutes when Soares went through one-on-one with Rhys Taylor, firing hard and low on the zippy surface. The young Welshman did well though, and was able to parry the ball away after getting down to his right.

Two minutes later he was called into action again as Pericard laid back for Glenn Whelan to fire. Taylor was again equal and gathered at the second attempt.

Chelsea fought back, and the trickery and pace of Scott Sinclair, coupled with Mineiro's deft touch, looked as though they may cause Stoke problems - yet no chances had fallen to the home side in the opening half an hour.

Stoke had defended well, led by captain and first team regular Leon Cort, their former record signing, ensuring Steve Simonsen, once Britain's most expensive goalkeeper, had a relatively quiet opening period.

With five minutes remaining in the first half, Fabio Borini was almost in after a spell of crisp Chelsea passing, but he miscontrolled at the vital moment and Simonsen was able to claim the loose ball.

The second half saw Chelsea come out with intent. Miroslav Stoch showed his capabilities with a weaving run, but pulled back to a red and white rather than blue shirt.

At the other end Pericard hit a post with his powerful strike that left Taylor beaten, and that was as close as either side had come.

Whelan then swung in a free-kick that evaded everybody, including the two unmarked Stoke attackers. It was beginning to look as though neither side would score, though Taylor was then forced into another full-length save from Pericard, who shot from a tight angle.

Then, on 62 minutes, a stroke of luck for Chelsea, as Ben Gordon strode forward after a Stoch pass into the area, and was brought down by Andrew Wilkinson for a penalty.

Stoch stepped up and fired low to the keeper's right. Simonsen guessed right, saved, and managed to hold. It was a visible disappointment for the young Slovakian.

It prompted a spell of Chelsea pressure, and Simonsen had to save smartly again from Woods, whose powerful shot was destined for the bottom corner. Credit to Gordon again for getting forward to the by-line and pulling back.

Then came the killer blow, into the last 10 minutes, Pericard flicked on a long cross into the area, and Soares was on hand to control and fire low beyond Taylor into the corner.

Chelsea had sat too deep, and the persistent aerial threat eventually proved too much to cope with.

Pericard almost made it two when his long-range shot was tipped on to the woodwork by Taylor, whose save was absolutely superb. Pugh shot wide shortly after.

Subs Sergio Tejera and Morten Nielsen both came close to levelling for the Blues, but the Spaniard just short of connecting with a low Stoch cross, which was claimed at his near post by Simonsen, while the Dane shot straight when he could maybe have hit a corner.

The loss was confirmed in the 90th minute when Pugh found the bottom corner with a low curling effort beyond Taylor. It was harsh on the Chelsea side.

Despite the loss, Brendan Rodgers will be pleased with his side's efforts against a far more experienced and physical side.

For the first team, Mineiro played 90 minutes, and seems to be adapting to the wet English weather, even sporting a short-sleeved shirt for the second half.

Chelsea: Rhys Taylor, Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Jeffrey Bruma, Liam Bridcutt, Ben Gordon (sub Morten Nielsen), Michael Woods (sub Sergio Tejera), Mineiro, Jacob Mellis, Miroslav Stoch, Fabio Borini, Scott Sinclair.

Unused subs: Nick Heimann, Tom Taiwo, Ricardo Fernandes.