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Baggies Bamboozled By Blues (Sky Sports)
West Bromwich Albion 0 Chelsea 3
Portuguese full-back Jose Bosingwa opened the scoring for Luiz Felipe Scolari's
side, before Nicolas Anelka wrapped up the points with a brace before the
interval.
The hosts had begun the game in positive fashion, with James Morrison and
Ishmael Miller both going close to opening the scoring.
However, it would Bosingwa who forced the breakthrough on 34 minutes when his
speculative drive from 25 yards evaded the clutches of Scott Carson and nestled
into the top corner.
Chelsea were now rampant and extended their advantage just four minutes later
when Anelka raced clear to finish with aplomb.
The Frenchman, who currently tops the Premier League scoring charts, then
claimed his second goal of the contest in first half injury-time when he coolly
beat Carson at his near post.
The Blues had numerous opportunities to stretch their lead after the break but,
with the result already beyond doubt, they were ultimately let down by some
wayward finishing.
Promise
Albion showed plenty of promise in the opening half hour and knocked the ball
around in the style demanded by manager Tony Mowbray.
The first decent chance even fell to West Brom after a powerful 50-yard run by
Borja Valero.
He reached the edge of the box before picking out the run of Miller but the
former Manchester City striker dragged his shot across the face of goal.
The visitors, though, then started to find more space near the Albion goal and
the home side were indebted to Carson for keeping them on level terms.
Florent Malouda's first time ball was perfectly weighted for the run of Frank
Lampard into the inside left channel and his powerful drive was beat out by the
England goalkeeper.
Carson was tested for the second time in turning away a swerving drive from
Malouda after he had advanced towards the box unchallenged.
But out of nothing a superb strike from Bosingwa gave the Blues the lead after
34 minutes.
There appeared to be little danger, but Bosingwa suddenly unleashed a powerful
left-footed drive from 30 yards out which Carson got a hand to but could not
prevent from crossing the line.
Stunned
Albion were stunned and it needed a fine tackle from Jonas Olsson to deny
Malouda as he lined up a shot inside the area.
But after 38 minutes Anelka doubled Chelsea's lead, seizing Malouda's headed
pass and racing into the area to beat an exposed Carson.
Chelsea now threatened every time they ventured forward and in first-half
injury-time Anelka struck again, beating Carson from a narrow angle with Kalou
this time the provider.
The Blues were soon back on the offensive after the interval and Carson managed
to block an effort from a narrow angle by Malouda.
Anelka had the chance to go for his hat-trick when in space 15 yards out but he
unselfishly attempted to tee up Deco, who was denied by a last-gasp tackle from
Paul Robinson.
The Chelsea players were now queuing up to take shots at goal and Abdoulaye
Meite threw himself in front of a shot from Anelka.
Filipe Teixeira almost made an immediate impact after stepping off the bench for
the Baggies, but the Portuguese playmaker's late curling shot was inches too
high.
West Bromwich Albion
Team Statistics
Chelsea
0
Goals
3
0
1st Half Goals
3
2
Shots on Target
6
10
Shots off Target
7
3
Blocked Shots
6
3
Corners
10
9
Fouls
9
0
Offsides
5
0
Yellow Cards
3
0
Red Cards
0
78.6
Passing Success
87.6
14
Tackles
24
78.6
Tackles Success
70.8
37.9
Possession
62.1
50.8
Territorial Advantage
49.2
Teams
West Bromwich Albion
Carson,
Zuiverloon, Miete (Donk 69), Olsson, Robinson, Koren, Valero, Greening, Morrison
(Teixeira 59), Miller, Bednar (Kim 45)
Chelsea
Cudicini,
Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (Ferreira 86), Bridge, Mikel, Kalou (Ballack 68),
Deco, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka (Drogba 75)
Referee
S. Bennett
Subs Not Used
Kiely, Cech, Brunt, Moore
Booked
Goals
Subs Not Used
Hilario, A. Cole, Minero, Sinclair
Booked
Terry,
Bosingwa, Ivanovic
Goals
Bosingwa 34, Anelka 38, 45
Attendance 26,322