Blues Brush Baggies Aside  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea 2 West Bromwich Albion 0

Chelsea returned to winning ways at home in the Premier League as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion.

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were on target for the Blues as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side recorded their first league triumph at Stamford Bridge since 1st November.

Ivory Coast international Drogba opened the scoring after just three minutes as he met Joe Cole's dinked cross to head past Baggies goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Lampard then put the game beyond Tony Mowbray's charges, who struggled to create chances throughout the encounter, after he chipped home cleverly in first-half injury-time.

The Blues took just three minutes to go in front with Drogba, making his first league appearance since the end of September, heading home a cross from Cole.

It was the Ivorian's second goal of the season and his first in the Premier League this term.

In the ninth minute Lampard tried his luck with a 35-yard free-kick which Albion keeper Carson did well to hold at the first attempt.

Drogba's goal allowed Chelsea the luxury of playing without the nervousness that had accompanied their last three league games at the Bridge.

A defeat by Arsenal and draws with Newcastle and West Ham had stunted their title charge in recent weeks.

Lampard should have done better in the 19th minute when Ashley Cole found him unmarked inside the Albion penalty area.

But the England midfielder, captain in the absence of the suspended John Terry, sent his shot wide of the target.

Moments later Chelsea carved out a fine move down the right flank but a cross from Jose Bosingwa eluded everyone in the six-yard box.

In the 32nd minute, Carson had to be alert to keep out a low drive from Michael Ballack as Chelsea increased the tempo.

Ten minutes before the break, Joe Cole fed namesake Ashley on the left but the defender saw his shot tipped onto the post by Carson.

The ball rebounded back to Ashley Cole but Carson also saved his second effort, even though it was going wide.

Danger

Chelsea's biggest threat was coming from the rampaging runs of Bosingwa on the right.

The full-back was virtually ever-present in attack such was Albion's lack of a cutting edge.

Chelsea made it two in first-half injury time when Joe and Ashley Cole linked up to provide Lampard with the chance to beat Carson from close range.

Chelsea replaced Bosingwa with Juliano Belletti at half-time and he was quickly into the action, but a neat combination of passes with Drogba ended with an attempted chip over Carson going far too high.

Anelka and Drogba were starting a game together for the first time this season but Scolari had kept faith with his 4-3-3 formation.

That meant Anelka found himself out on the left flank for large periods of the game - a position he disliked under former coach Avram Grant last season.

But it was clear Drogba offered Chelsea more power in the central role and in the 53rd minute his trickery and muscle opened up the Albion defence sufficiently for him to test Carson with a powerful shot.

Lampard should have scored his second of the game in the 58th minute but he was far too cavalier with his effort.

Perfect

Anelka, for once in a central position, supplied the England midfielder with a perfect pass but Lampard's attempted chip was easily dealt with by Carson.

Three minutes later Ballack found Drogba in space on the right side of the penalty area but the Ivorian sent his shot swerving into the crowd as he looked for a second goal of the afternoon.

Moments later Drogba squandered another chance after a fabulous run from Anelka presented him with a clear-cut opportunity.

The Chelsea striker was foiled by Carson who punched away Drogba's effort. It was the Ivorian's last contribution as seconds later he was replaced by Florent Malouda.

Eight minutes from time Anelka tried his luck from 20 yards but sent his shot straight at Carson.

Malouda snatched wildly at a chance four minutes from the end of normal time but the France international hit the side netting.

Chelsea	Team Statistics	West Bromwich Albion
2	Goals	0
2	1st Half Goals	0
12	Shots on Target	2
9	Shots off Target	4
4	Blocked Shots	4
7	Corners	5
6	Fouls	8
4	Offsides	3
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
89.7	Passing Success	75.1
20	Tackles	30
75	Tackles Success	66.7
64.1	Possession	35.9
49.1	Territorial Advantage	50.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teams

Chelsea  Cech, Bosingwa (Belletti 45), Alex, Ivanovic, A. Cole, Mikel, J. Cole (Deco 79), Ballack, Lampard, Drogba (Malouda 67), Anelka
Subs Not Used  Cudicini, Kalou, Mineiro, Ferreira
Booked  Ballack
Goals  Drogba 3, Lampard 45

West Bromwich Albion  Carson, Meite (Barnett 27), Zuiverloon, Robinson, Olsson, Greening, Koren, Brunt, Morrison, Kim (Bednar 69), Beattie (Moore 60)
Subs Not Used Kiely, Cech, Valero, Dorrans
Booked 
Goals 

Attendance 41,437

Referee R. Styles