toptop
Pedro
enjoyed a dream debut as Chelsea earned a 3-2 win at West Brom, but the victory
was tarnished by John Terry's dismissal.
Pedro gave the visitors the lead in the 20th minute after James Morrison had
seen a penalty saved down the other end, before the Spaniard provided the assist
for Diego Costa to double the champions' lead on the half-hour mark.
Morrison somewhat made amends for his earlier miss to put the Baggies back in it
five minutes later, but Cesar Azpilicueta restored the Blues' two-goal lead
three minutes before the break.
Chelsea looked to be in command until Terry was given his marching orders for
bringing down Salomon Rondon on the edge of the box on 54 minutes, before
Morrison scored again five minutes later to really worry Jose Mourinho on the
Blues bench.
However, Chelsea managed to hold on to record their first win of the season, but
this encounter provided further evidence that retaining their title, even with
Pedro firing on all cylinders, will be anything but easy.
Pedro started for the Blues just days after joining from Barcelona, with Saido
Berahino left out of the matchday squad for West Brom, with speculation mounting
he could be about to sign for Tottenham.
Costa, who looked back to his menacing self, could have opened the scoring after
just six minutes, but he dragged wide from a good position.
Just five minutes later however, Morrison had a fantastic opportunity to break
the deadlock from the penalty spot, after Nemanja Matic had brought down
McManaman in the box.
Not normally the penalty taker, Morrison took the ball from Chris Brunt, but saw
his attempt saved by the legs of Thibaut Courtois.
The Baggies were made to pay after 20 minutes, with new boy Pedro making an
immediate impact on his debut.
The Spain forward carried the ball towards the edge of box, cut inside, before
firing past Boaz Myhill, via a slight deflection, to give the visitors the lead.
Pedro then turned provider for Costa just ten minutes later, firing across goal
for Costa to divert home to put the Blues in command.
Credit to Tony Pulis' men though, they carried on plugging away, and got a
reward for their endeavours on 35 minutes, with Morrison drilling the ball home
after debutant Rondon had brilliantly kept a deep cross alive.
However, Chelsea quickly restored their two-goal lead, with Azpilicueta latching
onto the loose ball, after Costa had chest a lofted centre down, to score his
first goal for the club.
After the interval, Chelsea seemed pretty comfortable, until Terry was adjudged
to be the last man and was given his marching orders.
The Blues skipper was struggling to keep pace with the energetic Rondon, and
tugged the Baggies record signing back before he could reach the box, and was
handed a straight red.
The hosts grew in confidence as a result, and closed the gap just before the
hour mark, with Morrison again getting on the scoresheet, this time with his
head, converting a pinpoint McManaman cross.
Costa almost made the result safe following more brilliant work from Pedro, but
he fired just wide with Myhill beaten.
McManaman curled just past the post before a frantic final 15 minutes saw both
sides have chances to score, but the Blues held on for a vital three points, and
showed some much-needed resilience to silence some of the doubters.
Player ratings
West Brom: Myhill (6), Dawson (6), McAuley (5), Olsson (5),
Brunt (6), Morrison (8), Fletcher (7), Yacob (6), McClean (7), McManaman (8),
Rondon (7).
Subs: Gnabry (7), Gardner (6), Lambert (5)
Chelsea: Courtois (7), Ivanovic (5), Zouma (6), Terry (5),
Azpilicueta (7), Matic (6), Fabregas (7) Pedro (9), Willian (5), Hazard (7),
Diego Costa (8).
Subs: Cahill (6), Falcao (5), Mikel (5).
Man of the Match: Pedro (Chelsea)
Teams
West Bromwich Albion Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt,
McManaman (Gnabry 78), Morrison (Gardner 88), Fletcher (c), Yacob, McClean
(Lambert 60), Rondon
Subs Not Used Rose, Chester, Lescott, Anichebe
Booked McClean, McManaman
Goals Morrison 35, 59
Chelsea Coutois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta,
Matic, Fabregas, Pedro (Mikel 84), Willian (Cahill 56), Hazard, Costa (Falcao
78)
Subs Not Used Begovic, Remy, Loftus-Cheek, Traore
Booked Matic
Sent Off Terry 54
Goals Pedro 20, Costa 30, Azpilicueta 42
Attendance 23,256
Referee Mark Clattenburg