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Match Report

Barclays Premier League

Saturday, 22 November 2014,

Chelsea
2
-
Full Time
Live
-
0
West Brom
  • Kickoff: 16:00 BST
  • Stadium: Stamford Bridge
  • Referee: -
  • Stadium: Stamford Bridge
  • Attendance: 41,600
  • 11' Diego Costa
  • 25' Eden Hazard
  • 29' Claudio Yacob

Chelsea

Half time

Full time

West Bromwich Albion

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  • Report

Costa fit for West Brom clash

Diego Costa is fit for Chelsea's return to Premier League action but Jose Mourinho has yet to make a decision on whether Cesc Fabregas will face West Brom.

The pair missed Spain's recent internationals but Mourinho says striker Costa has "fully recovered" from hamstring and groin complaints, while Fabregas is in contention after returning to training on Friday after a minor thigh tear.

John Obi Mikel will also be assessed having returned from Nigeria duty on Friday, while Ramires is available for selection albeit "not in very, very good condition". Nathan Ake is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury but Andre Schurrle is back.

A fully-fit Costa is a worrying prospect for Chelsea's Premier League rivals and, in particular, West Brom.

It is a match the west Londoners head into top of the table with 29 points from the first 11 matches - a start only bettered twice in Premier League history.

Such fine form had even led one bookmaker to pay out on the Blues winning the title, although Mourinho scoffed at the suggestion that the title race was all but over.

"No complacency, that's for sure," Mourinho said. "If we lose matches, and I believe we will, it won't be because of complacency. It will be because football is football.

"It was not in the Premier League but I can give you an example: our game against Maribor. We lost two points, but it wasn't down to complacency. It was because of football.

"Their goalkeeper was the man of the match and we missed so many chances. My team played tremendously well in the second half but we still lost two points.

"You lose points because it's football, because the opponents are better than you, but not because of complacency."

Craig Gardner could return to the West Brom line-up after suspension.

Boss Alan Irvine's only injury concerns are defender Jonas Olsson, still out with an Achilles problem, and left-back Sebastien Pocognoli, who has a hamstring injury.

Former Everton assistant-manager Irvine has demanded his side attack Chelsea instead of 'parking the bus'.

"We can't be passive," he said. "If we sit back and let them have the ball and try to soak up pressure for 90 minutes then eventually they will open us up.

"If you sit back and don't take the opportunities to put them under pressure with and without the ball eventually they will probably win."

91'+3

End Regular Time

91'+2

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Free Kick at 93'

91'+2

Gary Cahill (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

91'

Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 91'

89'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 89'

87'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Andre Wisdom.

87'

Didier Drogba (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 87'

86'

Substitution, Chelsea. Ramires replaces Willian.

86'

Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Willian.

86'

Willian (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 86'

84'

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. James Morrison replaces Graham Dorrans.

84'

Substitution, Chelsea. Didier Drogba replaces Diego Costa.

83'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Stéphane Sessegnon.

83'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 83'

81'

Gary Cahill (Chelsea) Free Kick at 81'

80'

Gary Cahill (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

79'

Substitution, Chelsea. Loïc Remy replaces Oscar.

78'

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Victor Anichebe replaces Saido Berahino.

78'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 77'

77'

Foul by Oscar (Chelsea).

77'

Attempt blocked. Oscar (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas.

77'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 77'

76'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Free Kick at 76'

76'

Foul by Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion).

76'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 76'

76'

Joleon Lescott (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 76'

75'

Willian

75'

Foul by Willian (Chelsea).

75'

Cristian Gamboa (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 75'

74'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Craig Dawson.

74'

Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 74'

74'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Throw In at 74'

73'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 73'

73'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ben Foster.

73'

Attempt saved. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas with a through ball.

73'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 73'

71'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 71'

71'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 71'

70'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 70'

69'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 69'

68'

Attempt missed. Willian (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Nemanja Matic.

68'

Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 68'

68'

Oscar (Chelsea) Free Kick at 68'

68'

Oscar (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

68'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 68'

68'

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Cristian Gamboa replaces Chris Baird.

67'

Offside, Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.

67'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 67'

66'

Stéphane Sessegnon (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

64'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 64'

62'

Attempt missed. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Oscar.

62'

Oscar (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 62'

62'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 62'

60'

Attempt missed. Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from long range on the left is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.

59'

Stéphane Sessegnon (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

59'

Chris Baird (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 59'

58'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 58'

58'

Offside, Chelsea. Eden Hazard tries a through ball, but Oscar is caught offside.

57'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 57'

56'

Joleon Lescott (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 56'

55'

Attempt missed. Willian (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Branislav Ivanovic.

55'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 55'

54'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 54'

54'

Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 54'

52'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 52'

52'

Offside, Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.

51'

Gary Cahill (Chelsea) Blocked Pass at 51'

51'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Chris Baird.

51'

Chris Baird (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 51'

50'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 50'

50'

Foul by John Terry (Chelsea).

50'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Chris Baird.

50'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 50'

49'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Craig Dawson.

49'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 49'

49'

John Terry (Chelsea) Free Kick at 49'

49'

John Terry (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

47'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 47'

47'

Attempt missed. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) left footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Oscar following a corner.

47'

Oscar (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 47'

46'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Graham Dorrans.

46'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 46'

46'

Second Half begins Chelsea 2, West Bromwich Albion 0.

46'+2

Halftime

46'+1

Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Chris Brunt tries a through ball, but Saido Berahino is caught offside.

46'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ben Foster.

46'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 46'

46'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 46'

46'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 46'

44'

Attempt missed. Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Chris Brunt.

44'

Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) Assists Shot at 44'

44'

Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 44'

44'

Diego Costa (Chelsea) Blocked Pass at 44'

44'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 44'

43'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 43'

43'

Offside, Chelsea. Eden Hazard tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.

42'

Attempt saved. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

42'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 42'

42'

Attempt saved. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Branislav Ivanovic.

42'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 42'

41'

Attempt missed. Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas with a cross following a corner.

41'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 41'

40'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Graham Dorrans.

40'

Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 40'

38'

Attempt missed. Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Saido Berahino.

38'

Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion) Assists Shot at 38'

37'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 37'

36'

Attempt blocked. Oscar (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

35'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 35'

35'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 35'

34'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Free Kick at 34'

34'

Foul by Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion).

33'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 33'

31'

Chris Baird (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 31'

30'

Attempt blocked. Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

30'

Attempt blocked. Oscar (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

29'

Claudio Yacob

29'

Foul by Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion).

27'

Attempt saved. Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Saido Berahino.

27'

Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion) Assists Shot at 27'

26'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Blocked Pass at 26'

25'

2 - 0

Goal! Chelsea 2, West Bromwich Albion 0. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas following a corner.

25'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 25'

25'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 25'

23'

Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 23'

21'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Free Kick at 21'

21'

Gary Cahill (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

20'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 20'

19'

Attempt missed. Diego Costa (Chelsea) left footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the left.

19'

Chris Baird (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 19'

18'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 18'

17'

Attempt missed. Gary Cahill (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Eden Hazard following a corner.

17'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 17'

16'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 16'

16'

Attempt blocked. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas.

16'

Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 16'

16'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ben Foster.

16'

Diego Costa (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 16'

15'

Attempt saved. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.

15'

Attempt saved. Oscar (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

15'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 15'

15'

Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 15'

14'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 14'

14'

Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 14'

13'

Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 13'

13'

Stéphane Sessegnon (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

11'

1 - 0

Goal! Chelsea 1, West Bromwich Albion 0. Diego Costa (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Oscar.

11'

Oscar (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 11'

11'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 11'

9'

Attempt missed. Stéphane Sessegnon (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Craig Gardner.

9'

Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion) Assists Shot at 9'

9'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 9'

9'

Offside, Chelsea. Cesc Fàbregas tries a through ball, but Diego Costa is caught offside.

8'

John Terry (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

8'

Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 8'

8'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 8'

8'

Chris Baird (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 8'

7'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 7'

6'

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) Throw In at 6'

6'

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) Free Kick at 6'

5'

Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ben Foster.

5'

John Terry (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 5'

5'

Attempt saved. John Terry (Chelsea) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard.

5'

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Assists Shot at 5'

5'

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Claudio Yacob.

5'

Diego Costa (Chelsea) Corner Kick at 5'

4'

Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion) Throw In at 4'

3'

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Throw In at 3'

3'

Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) Free Kick at 3'

2'

Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Craig Gardner tries a through ball, but Saido Berahino is caught offside.

1'

Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion) Blocked Pass at 1'

1'

First Half begins.

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Possession

74%
26%
  • Chelsea
  • West Bromwich Albion

Shots

21
5

Shots on target

8
1

Fouls

7
9

Corners

15
0

Yellow Cards

1
0

Red Cards

0
1

Head to Head

Chelsea2 - 0West Brom
West Brom1 - 1Chelsea
Chelsea2 - 2West Brom
Chelsea1 - 0West Brom
West Brom2 - 1Chelsea
West Brom1 - 0Chelsea

Chelsea

  • 13Thibaut Courtois
  • 2Branislav Ivanovic
  • 26John Terry
  • 24Gary Cahill
  • 28César Azpilicueta
  • 8Oscar
  • -> Loïc Rémy
  • 10Eden Hazard
  • 21Nemanja Matic
  • 4Cesc Fàbregas
  • 22Willian
  • -> Ramires
  • 19Diego Costa
  • -> Didier Drogba
  • Subs
  • 3Filipe Luis
  • 5Kurt Zouma
  • 14André Schürrle
  • 1Petr Cech

West Brom

  • 1Ben Foster
  • 4Chris Baird
  • -> Cristian Gamboa
  • 6Joleon Lescott
  • 25Craig Dawson
  • 2Andre Wisdom
  • 29Stephane Sessegnon
  • 8Craig Gardner
  • 5Claudio Yacob
  • 17Graham Dorrans
  • -> James Morrison
  • 11Chris Brunt
  • 18Saido Berahino
  • -> Victor Anichebe
  • Subs
  • 23Gareth McAuley
  • 13Boaz Myhill
  • 30Giorgos Samaras
  • 9Brown Ideye

Chelsea march goes on

Chelsea's title charge shows no signs of abating, with West Brom the latest side swatted away by Jose Mourinho's men.

It may only be November but few look capable of preventing the west Londoners from lifting the Premier League trophy aloft at the end of the season.

West Brom were the Blues' latest victims, with first-half goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard securing Chelsea a victory that was far more dominant than the 2-0 scoreline suggests.

It was their sixth straight league win this season at Stamford Bridge - which was far more atmospheric than the last outing against QPR - and a result saw the Blues start a top-flight campaign unbeaten in 12 for the first time.

It did not take long for Costa to open the scoring here, with the striker, now fully-fit after various niggles, impressively notching his 11th goal in just 10 league matches after offside calls were ignored.

Hazard extended the Blues' lead soon after with a fizzing strike which took a slight deflection as it beat the otherwise excellent Ben Foster, whose goal always looked likely to breached further when Claudio Yacob was given a straight red card.

The Argentinian midfielder's reckless 29th-minute challenge on Costa forced Albion into damage limitation mode and impressively they pulled it off, preventing Chelsea from causing any more damage.

It was one-way traffic from the outset and Mourinho's side would have taken the lead inside five minutes was it not for Foster impressively preventing John Terry from turning home a low Hazard cross.

The league leaders would not have to wait long to make the breakthrough, though. Neat team play saw Oscar float the ball to unmarked Costa, who impressively controlled with his chest and struck a right-footed volley past Foster.

There were shades of offside about the Spaniard's latest goal but it stood nonetheless as the hosts' dominance continued, with Foster doing well to smother Costa after saving Oscar's initial effort.

Hazard was, as always, proving a nuisance, wriggling free only to see his shot blocked by Andre Wisdom, before Gary Cahill struck wide and Costa stabbed an early Branislav Ivanovic cross just wide.

The second goal looked inevitable and so it proved, arriving in the 25th minute. Oscar played an intelligent short corner to Hazard, with the Belgian jinking free before unleashing a fizzing strike that snuck past Foster via a slight deflection off Craig Gardner.

As if being 2-0 down to the league leaders was not tough enough, the Baggies were reduced to 10 men just before the half-hour mark.

Yacob, making his first league start of the campaign, launched into a heavy, two-footed challenge on Costa just outside the box.

The Argentinian got the ball but referee Lee Mason deemed the challenge reckless and dished out a straight red card to the perplexed midfielder.

Oscar wasted the free-kick which followed but Chelsea continued to press, with an exquisite Cesc Fabregas pass looking set to give Chelsea a third, only for the move to end when Cesar Azpilicueta was thwarted by Graham Dorrans.

Nemanja Matic had a low strike from distance and Foster did well to deny Hazard as half-time approached, while Oscar and Ivanovic had penalty appeals rejected as the onslaught continued.

Half-time will have no doubt been a welcome respite to Alan Irvine's side, who continued on the back foot when play resumed.

Matic volleyed over from close range having all too easily got behind the West Brom defence minutes after the restart, with Foster producing another fine save to deny Terry - a chance which would not have counted anyway as the Chelsea captain had been flagged for a foul.

West Brom were now sitting back and soaking up pressure, with the hosts dominating possession but struggling to recreate their first-half fluidity.

Hazard was denied by the outrushing Foster when put through by Fabregas as the home side continued to hunt out another goal.

Costa, shortly after being caught by Craig Dawson, was replaced by Didier Drogba for the closing stages, yet even his introduction, along with that of Loic Remy and Ramires, was unable to help Chelsea grab what have been a deserved third.




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