The Blues twice let a lead slip on a freezing night at Stamford Bridge with the visitors’ second equaliser coming four minutes from time.
It looked as though Gareth McAuley’s 73rd-minute own goal would be enough for Guus Hiddink’s side to record back-to-back league victories for the first time this season but James McClean struck a late leveller from the edge of the box.
A fine Chelsea goal had got the scoring under way 20 minutes in, Cesar Azpilicueta finishing off a flowing move for his first Stamford Bridge strike. That was cancelled out by an enterprising West Brom side 13 minutes later, Craig Gardner the scorer.
Diego Costa had a good chance in either half while Claudio Yacob should have been sent off soon after the interval for a clear second bookable offence. Despite plenty of fluent attacking Chelsea play it finished all-square, though the draw does extend our unbeaten run in all competitions to six games.
Pedro played the first half on the left flank, being replaced by Kenedy after the break. The Blues will be back in action at the Bridge on Saturday, Everton the visitors.
Hiddink didn’t feel the need to significantly change the strong side who had begun Sunday’s win over Scunthorpe in this week of three home games, making the same number of changes to the starting XI. In came Thibaut Courtois, captain John Terry and John Mikel Obi, such a standout performer in our win at Selhurst Park 10 days ago. Asmir Begovic, Gary Cahill and Ramires made way.
For Tony Pulis’s visitors, Jonas Olsson returned from a hamstring injury and Salomon Rondon lead the line. James Morrison’s game would last only seven minutes, injured after a clever turn by Mikel. The two-goal scorer in the return fixture was replaced by Gardner.
Before that early sub Diego Costa blasted an effort into the Shed Lower having nutmegged Jonny Evans. Willian also went close from a similar point around the edge of the box but it was the Baggies who enjoyed the first two real chances of the game.
They arrived from crosses of differing guises. Gardner’s from wide on the left reached Darren Fletcher whose goal-bound strike was blocked by the alert Azpilicueta; Gardner’s from deep was met by a powerful Craig Dawson header. Courtois saved low to his left.
Our goalie would be called into action again on 25 minutes to tip McClean’s header wide, but before then the Bridge had a goal to celebrate, and what a good goal it was too.
Fabregas, a constant menace in possession on his 50th Chelsea league start, picked out the run of Diego Costa from inside his own half with trademark precision. The striker chested and held the ball up before finding Willian. He played in the marauding Ivanovic down the right and his opposite full-back Azpilicueta was equally forward-thinking, turning in the Serbian’s brilliant low cross at the back post.
More incisive Chelsea play on the half-hour ended with Oscar backheeling Diego Costa into space inside the box. Unfortunately the off-balance striker couldn’t direct his effort goalwards, not helped by a bobble.
It was a miss we would pay for three minutes later. Fletcher moved the ball on to Gardner and the former Sunderland man used Kurt Zouma as a wall between him and Courtois, driving a low shot from 25 yards out inside the Belgian’s right-hand post.
Oscar had a firm shot deflected over and Rondon fired not far wide at the other end as both teams sought to seize the initiative before the break. Ref Anthony Taylor denied us a counter-attacking opportunity in the final seconds of three added-on minutes much to the frustration of players, management and supporters alike. It was a sour note on which to end an entertaining half of Premier League football.
For the second game in succession Hiddink made a half-time switch in the three attackers behind Diego Costa, bringing Kenedy on for Pedro. The Brazilian would enjoy another lively substitute appearance.
The first goalmouth action of the second period saw McClean head at Courtois from close range, before Diego Costa followed Yacob into the book for a late tackle. The West Brom midfielder, yellow carded for cynically halting Willian in his tracks midway through the first half, should then have got his marching orders on 57 minutes. His trip on Diego Costa off the ball as we broke at speed was calculated and cynical. Little wonder Pulis immediately withdrew him. Willian meanwhile curled the resulting free-kick over.
It was now not only very cold at the Bridge but also very wet, contributing to a game that was becoming as fractured as it was frenetic. Myhill was booked for time-wasting as early as the 68th minute and then Courtois and McClean squared up. They too saw yellow.
Then, in a flash, the wonderful Willian created a goal. A combination of speed and skill got him clear down the right, and his subsequent near-post cross was dangerous and too hot to handle. Kenedy attacked the space with intent, marshalled by McCauley, and the ball flew off the Baggies defender’s knee and past Myhill before he could react. 2-1.
It was nearly three immediately with Willian again the instigator, but Diego Costa’s deflected shot was superbly saved by Myhill low to the keeper’s right.
The value of that stop increased significantly when West Brom equalised with four minutes remaining. We had already dealt with a barrage of crosses but when one wasn’t fully cleared, the ball fell to McClean 20 yards out and he stroked it past Courtois on his right foot.
Five minutes of added time were signalled but there would be no further breakthrough on a frustrating night at the Bridge. We’ll have the chance to return to winning ways against Everton on Saturday.
- Match stats:
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Mikel, Fabregas (Matic 78); Willian, Oscar, Pedro (Kenedy h/t); Diego Costa.
Unused subs Begovic, Cahill, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Remy.
Scorers Azpilicueta 20, McCauley OG 73
Booked Diego Costa 49, Courtois 70, Azpilicueta 85
West Brom (4-2-3-1): Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Fletcher, Yacob (Berahino 60’); Brunt, Morrison (Gardner 7’), McClean; Rondon (Sessegnon 67’).
Unused subs Foster, Chester, Gardner, Anichebe, McManaman.
Scorers Gardner 33’, McClean 86’.
Booked Yacob 25’, Myhill 68’, McClean 70’.
Referee Anthony Taylor
Crowd 40,945
- Match report by chelseafc.com
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