FULL MATCH UPDATE BETWEEN West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Chelsea 90+6 minFULL TIME: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Chelsea 90+6 minWillian has a late shot from the edge of the box and it deflects wide for a corner, despite Fosters best efforts. Chelsea scored from a corner late in the first half, surely they wont do it again at the end of the second? 90+5 minCHANCE! Cahill, to be fair to him, is still limping a bit here, and that causes him problems here. The ball is hoofed clear by West Brom and Anichebe - not the fastest - erases a five-yard deficit to beat Cahill to the ball. However, the Chelsea man just about gets back in time to make a block and concede a corner. 90+3 minChelsea come forward through Ivanovic, who is given space 25 yards from goal. With his recent scoring record, it is no surprise to see him go for goal, but he sends his low effort wide of the near post, much to the delight of the home fans. 90+2 minThere will be a minimum of SIX minutes added time at the end of this match! Still plenty of time for an awful lot to happen at the Hawthorns, will we see any more late drama? 90 minCHANCE! It is all West Brom at the moment! Brunt receives the ball on the edge of the box and tries to guide a shot into the top corner with that dangerous left foot of his, but he sends it high and wide of the mark when he should have done better. 90 minCHELSEA SUB: Mourinho was initially planning to bring Lampard on before that equaliser, but he changes tact here and goes for the more attacking Mohamed Salah. Can the new boy make the difference? 89 minYELLOW CARD! Matic becomes the seventh man in the referees book tonight for a clumsy challenge on Reid. It is West Broms turn to take their time now! 87 minWest Brom have found the equaliser in the closing stages! Anichebe makes a good run into the box and just gets to a cross ahead of Cech, flicking his header past the keeper and into the far corner. It is a clever finish from the big striker, who becomes the first man to score past Chelsea in more than 750 minutes. What a huge goal that could be for both sides here. 87 minGOAL! West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Chelsea (Victor Anichebe) 85 minCahill is down here and a number of Chelsea immediately crowd round him, forcing West Brom to kick the ball out of play. Call me cynical, but that looked like a time-wasting ploy, as does them taking the longest possible route off the pitch when the referee eventually orders them to leave. 83 minHe does exactly that, but Cech reads it well and gathers comfortably as Brunts ball eludes his West Brom teammates in the area. 82 minThe initial free kick is easily dealt with by Chelsea but it comes straight back at them and Matic concedes another free kick in an even more dangerous position. Brunt will look to whip this one in towards the far post. 81 minYELLOW CARD! David Luiz becomes the latest name in the referees book for a cynical foul that gives the Baggies a free kick in a promising position. 80 minCHANCE! Huge chance for the hosts as they continue to apply the pressure in this final 15 minutes. Brunt swings a fine corner into the area that Dawson rises highest to meet. However, he cant keep his effort down from the edge of the six-yard box, nodding it over the bar. 79 minCHELSEA SUB: Mourinho responds with a change of his own, and it speaks volumes about his intentions for the closing stages of this match. Oscar makes way to be replaced by the defensive-minded Mikel. 78 minWEST BROM SUB: Final throw of the dice for Mel as Vydra comes on for Bifouma, who gets a warm reception as he sprints off after a lively home debut. 77 minYELLOW CARD! Ivanovic goes into the book in bizarre fashion after he was involved in a big argument with Cech following that Brunt chance. Mourinho will not be happy at seeing such unrest between two members of his own team! 76 minCHANCE! West Brom are really knocking on the door right now. Brunt whips a cross into the box and Chelsea just about get it momentarily clear before it is hauled back into the area. This time it falls to Brunt at the back post, but his left-footed volley is dragged wide without a Chelsea player near him. Youd have fancied him to do better with that one! 75 minCHANCE! Huge chance for the hosts as a corner falls to Bifouma as the back post, but his powerful volley back across goal takes a deflection on its way just wide for another corner. 74 minWEST BROM SUB: Pepe Mel chooses to bring on an extra striker as he looks to chase this game, and Victor Anichebe is the man to get the call. He comes on for Amalfitano. 73 minCHANCE! Decent chance for the hosts as Morrison cuts inside from the left and creates space to shoot from inside the box. He is off balance when he lets fly, however, and slices his shot well wide. 71 minSAVE! This has to go down as a waste for Chelsea. Hazard is released down the left flank and for once the visitors pour forward in support of him. The Belgian has plenty of time to decide what to do with the ball, cutting inside from the left wing and into the box. However, he takes too long on it and eventually the home defence get back in numbers. The ball eventually falls to Willian on the edge, but his powerful shot it straight at the keeper. 70 minCHELSEA SUB: That will be Etoos last action of the match as he is replaced by the returning Fernando Torres, who is making his 100th Premier League appearance for Chelsea. 68 minMeanwhile, here at the Hawthorns, Hazard races behind the defence before holding the ball up and waiting for support. It comes in the shape of Etoo, who flashes a powerful effort well wide of the near post having been put in by the Belgian. 68 minUPDATE: A potentially huge goal goes the way of West Ham at home to Norwich, with James Collins giving the Hammers a lead with just over five minutes left. 67 minYELLOW CARD! Willian in the latest player to go into the book and, even though the referee signals that it is for a totting up process, it is a harsh one. 65 minThe subsequent corner to too high for Dawson but McAuley is behind his defensive partner to latch on to the cross. However, he gets his header all wrong, planting it into the ground before watching it bounce some way wide. 65 minWest Brom put some rare sustained pressure on the Chelsea defence, with Mulumbu immediately involved and lofting a high ball over to Berahino, who chested it down before playing it back to Amalfitano. The winger chooses to take his man on and eventually wins a corner for the Baggies. 63 minWEST BROM SUB: Yacobs afternoon is over as he limps off after receiving a slight knock, although the injury doesnt look too serious. He is replaced by Mulumbu, who should give the hosts a bit more drive from midfield. 62 minBrunt slips a pass down the right channel to Bifouma, but he tries to cut inside inside of crossing the ball and is subsequently crowded out by two Chelsea defenders. Once again, no end product in the final third for the hosts. 60 minIvanovic carelessly gives the ball away on the halfway line, but the Chelsea players work so hard to get back that Amalfitano is forced to cut back before being dispossessed. Their work rate off the ball is arguably the best in the league. 58 minSAVE! More good play from Willian as he works space to shoot from range before unleashing a stinging effort towards goal. It takes a deflection on the way through, and Foster adjusts well to make a smart stop, pushing the ball away to safety. 57 minChelsea work the ball out wide to Oscar on the right, and he has a rare amount of space to work with. However, he waits for a defender to come across before pushing the ball past him and sending a cross over the crossbar. 56 minUPDATE: Finally, we have a goal in one of the other Premier League matches tonight! It has gone the way of Southampton, who have taken the lead against Hull at the KC Stadium courtesy of a Rickie Lambert strike. 54 minFor West Brom, their front two have looked lively but Cech is yet to have a troubling moment in the match. It is hard to see where a West Brom chance is going to come from either as Chelsea look so solid both in midfield and at the back. There does not seem to be any way through for the hosts. 52 minWillian has looked like Chelseas most lively player this evening, but it is fair to say that none of the three attacking midfielders have quite been at their best. The visitors just havent played with a high enough tempo to utilise the trio. 50 minCHANCE! Willian dances past a couple of challenges before flicking the ball through to Etoo inside the box. The striker does really well to hit a powerful shot on the turn, but Foster is on hand to make a good stop at his near post. Moments later, Yacob gets a yellow card for a foul in the build-up to that chance. 49 minWeve gone past the seven-hour mark since Chelsea last conceded a goal, which is a big achievement. It doesnt make for the best viewing for the neutral when they play like this, but I doubt Mourinho cares much about that. His first title-winning team with Chelsea was built on a strong defence, and it looks like he is trying to replicate that this season. 47 minHalf a chance for Chelsea at the start of this second period as Yacob makes a mess of his clearance, gifting it straight to Oscar. The Brazilian has to adjust quickly before firing a first-time half volley towards goal, eventually sending his effort harmlessly wide. 46 minKICKOFF: Chelsea get us back underway for the second half as they look to hold on to another victory by keeping a sixth straight away clean sheet. Can they do it or will West Brom come from behind at home once again? 45+3 minHALF TIME: West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Chelsea 45+2 minChelsea take the lead with the very last action of the first half! What a time to score for the visitors as their seventh corner of the first half is flicked on by David Luiz and converted by Ivanovic, who has his second goal in the space of little more than a week. Massive goal for Chelsea. 45+2 minGOAL! West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Chelsea (Branislav Ivanovic) 45 minThere will be a minimum of two additional minutes at the end of this first half. 44 minRamires advances down the right flank before putting a good low ball in towards the front post. Etoo gets in front of his man and swipes a leg at the ball, but he cant connect and Dawson makes a good challenge before the Baggies are able to clear the danger. 42 minSHOT! The free kick is blocked by the wall but Chelsea worked it back in towards the box. It eventually falls to Willian just outside the area, and he chests it down before sending a dipping a volley a few yards over the bar. Foster looked to have that one covered, though. 41 minYELLOW CARD! Amalfitano finally gets his inevitable yellow card, but at least it isnt for dissent. He trips Hazard on the left wing and the referee correctly puts him into the book. Chelsea now have a free kick in a good crossing position. 40 minHazard comes down the left this time before giving the ball to Oscar, who in turn rolls it to Ramires on the edge of the box. The Brazilian looks to be lining up a shot, but he is well tackled from behind and Chelsea have yet another corner. 39 minIndeed, back on he trots, and he is greeted by a renewed set of jeers from the fans who still remember how the reverse meeting between these two sides ended earlier this season. 38 minChelsea will be forced to play with 10 men momentarily as Ramires limps off following a painful clash of knees with Bifouma. He should be able to continue, but that one will have been sore for the midfielder, who is not getting any sympathy from the home fans. 36 minBifouma and Berahino have looked very lively up front for the Baggies but they have lacked the killer final pass when they have got into good positions. They have certainly shown enough to suggest that they can threaten the Chelsea backline tonight, though. 34 minAnother ball comes into the box from Chelsea, and this time it is McAuley who is charged with dealing with the danger. His clearance is not the most convincing as he slices it over his own bar, but once again the Baggies deal with the resulting corner. 33 minReally good play from Foster as he races off his line to make a brave tackle at the feet of Ivanovic, who had raced forward after a clever one-two. That was good, alert goalkeeping from the West Brom keeper. 32 minBerahino comes forward again and escapes the attention of Matic on the right. He then has time to look up and pick a teammate out in the box, but his low pass into the area was easily picked off by the defence. 30 minWe have had half an hour of football at the Hawthorns and, while both teams have had sights of goal we are yet to have a really clear chance. This one needs a goal to liven things up. 28 minCHANCE! West Brom have their best opening of the match so far as Berahino manages to latch on to a deep cross into the box. He nods it back into Bifouma, who decides to take a touch instead of hitting it first time. His control is poor and takes him away from goal, but he still manages to squeeze it to Brunt, who flashes a first-time effort a couple of yards wide of the far post. 27 minCLOSE! Willian gets the ball just outside the box and drops a shoulder to create room to go for goal. He hits a powerful effort that swerves narrowly past the angle of the crossbar at the near post. 26 minHazard has moved onto the right wing now and he picks up the ball in his new position before sending a dangerous centre right across the face of goal. No Chelsea place are gambling in the area, however, and it flashes away from danger. 25 minYacob commits a blatant foul in the middle of park, hanging on to Hazard as he skipped past him on the halfway line. It is common to see a yellow card for such challenges nowadays, so Yacob can count himself a little lucky that he hasnt gone into the book there. 23 minCHANCE! The best opening of the match so far is snuffed out by some fine defending from the hosts. Willian chipped the ball through to Etoo, who turned his man on the left side of the box before pulling the ball back towards Ivanovic, who found himself in the area. However, before he can get a shot away a mixture of McAuley and Yacob get a foot in and bundle it behind for a corner. 21 minCech is out quickly to mop up an attempted through ball from the hosts as Berahino attempted to beat Cahill in a straight race. That looks like being the Baggies best avenue of attacking this evening, turning the defence and utilising their relative lack of pace against them. 20 minBoth teams are seeing plenty of the ball here, but we are yet to see any real quality in the attacking third - or anywhere on the pitch for that matter! This one is just crying out for a player like Hazard to grab it by the scruff of the neck. 18 minAnother decision goes against Amalfitano and again he has a few choice words for the official, but this time he cuts it short with the ref surely thinking of flashing a card. Any such booking would be a silly one for the winger and he needs to start holding his tongue a little here. 16 minBifouma momentarily gets behind the defence and he looks up to see two men in support in the box. He tries to pull the ball back to one of them, but it is a poor, underhit pass, and Cahill is able to step in and clear the danger. 15 minIt hasnt been a great opening 15 minutes, it must be said. Both sides look wary of piling too many men forward and it is all a bit cautious at the moment. 13 minWest Brom are unhappy here as Berahino is flagged for offside just as he looked to be through on goal. Amalfitano says something out of turn and the referee warns captain Chris Brunt that anymore of that will result in a booking. It is needless too as the linesman made the correct decision. 12 minIntricate play from Chelsea as Willian feeds Etoo behind the defence and he in turn plays it back to Oscar inside the box. The Brazilian looks like he will have a shooting chance, but his first touch is just a fraction too heavy and West Brom eventually scramble it clear. 10 minCalamitous play all round as David Luizs long ball is missed by Etoo forcing Foster to come out and clear it on the edge of the box with a Chelsea man in close attendance. He slices his clearance however, and Ivanovic goes for goal first time from around 40 yards, only to skew his effort towards the corner flag. 8 minThe visitors get a free kick in a decent crossing position but Willian chooses to take it quickly, playing a short pass to Hazard. The Belgian tries to slip a clever pass through to Etoo in the box, but the ball was just too far in front of the striker. 7 minIn true Mourinho style, Chelsea are being fairly cautious away from home as well. If one of Ramires or Matic moves up past the halfway line then another player immediately drops in to make sure that they have six men behind the ball. It is easy to see why they have kept so many clean sheets recently. 5 minThe Baggies are keeping their defensive shape well in these early stages, and it is clear that Mel has spent time on it on the training ground. The hosts are not defending deep unless Chelsea really push up, and then they are packing the edge of the box as their two lines of four almost become one line of eight. 3 minDecent enough start from West Brom as they see a lot of the ball and pass it confidently around inside the Chelsea half. However, they arent going anywhere with it and eventually a misplaced pass gifts the ball to the visitors. 1 minKICKOFF: West Brom get us underway at the Hawthorns in this huge Premier League clash. Can the Baggies pull off a big shock to end their poor run of form, or will the Chelsea machine keep on rolling?
Posted on: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 22:01:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015