toptop
Chelsea
cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over struggling West Brom at the Hawthorns to
add to the pressure on beleaguered boss Tony Pulis.
Eden Hazard was the star of the show, his good work setting up Alvara Morata for
the opener after 17 minutes, before scoring twice himself either side of
half-time in a convincing win for Antonio Conte's team.
Prior to Hazard's second, Marcos Alonso had already added his side's third
before the break to end West Brom's hopes in front of an increasingly agitated
Hawthorns crowd.
Player ratings
West Brom: Foster (5); McAuley (5), Hegazi (5), Evans (5);
Phillips (6), Krychowiak (5), Barry (4), Livermore (5), Gibbs (5); Rondon (5),
Rodriguez (5).
Subs: Yacob (5), McClean (5), Burke (5)
Chelsea: Courtois (6); Christensen (8), Cahill (7), Azpilicueta
(7); Zappacosta (7), Kante (7), Fabregas (8), Bakayoko (8), Alonso (7); Hazard
(9), Morata (8).
Subs: Drinkwater (6), Pedro (6), Willian (6).
Man of the match: Eden Hazard
The result took defending champions Chelsea up to second in the Premier League
table prior to Manchester United's game against Newcastle, but extends Albion's
winless streak to 10.
Pulis' team showed some signs of containing Chelsea early on and had a goal
disallowed when Salomon Rondon's header squeezed beyond Thibaut Courtois only
for him to be adjudged offside.
But any confidence ebbed away once Hazard wriggled free of Gareth Barry and
fired off a left-footed shot that Ben Foster could only parry into the path of
Morata.
It was the Spaniard's eighth goal of the season and his fourth assist came soon
after as he flicked on Cesc Fabregas' through-ball into the path of Hazard, who
rounded Foster and slotted home.
The third came after Ahmed Hegazi needlessly brought down Morata on the edge of
the penalty box and Fabregas' subsequent free-kick was calmly volleyed into the
net by the unmarked Alonso.
The game was played at a relatively sedate pace after the interval with the
result decided but Hazard added his second just after the hour mark, converting
brilliantly from Fabregas' lofted pass.
Team news
West Brom made two changes from the team that lost to Huddersfield with Salomon
Rondon replacing Hal Robson-Kanu in the starting line-up and Matty Phillips
coming in for Allan Nyom.
Chelsea kept faith with the side that saw off Manchester United at Stamford
Bridge, although David Luiz did return to the bench where 17-year-old Ethan
Ampadu was among the substitutes.
Conte had the luxury of removing both men soon after as Chelsea coasted to their
fourth consecutive Premier League win of the season.
But for Pulis, with owner Guochuan Lai in attendance for the first time since
the opening weekend win over Bournemouth, the pressure is building.
Match stats
The last two occasions of West Brom conceding three first half goals have both
been against Chelsea - they also conceded three in the first half in their 3-2
defeat in August 2015.
This was the joint-heaviest home Premier League defeat for Tony Pulis, matching
his 4-0 defeats to Man City (October 2016) and Chelsea (January 2013 as Stoke
boss).
Alvaro Morata has had a hand in 12 goals in his first 11 Premier League games
for Chelsea (eight goals, four assists), more than any other Blues player in the
competition's history.
Since the start of last season, Marcos Alonso has scored more Premier League
goals (9) than any other defender.
Man of the match - Eden Hazard
Hazard really seems to be enjoying playing in a more central role and did
brilliantly for Morata's opener before adding two himself. He was clearly the
outstanding player on the pitch and in this form the prospect of Hazard firing
Chelsea right back into the title race cannot be ruled out.
What's next?
West Brom travel to Wembley to face Tottenham next weekend, while Chelsea have a
midweek trip to Azerbaijan to take on Qarabag in the Champions League on
Wednesday before facing Liverpool at Anfield next week.
Teams
West Bromwich Albion Foster, McAuley, Hegazi, Evans (c),
Phillips (McClean 84), Krychowiak (Yacob 46), Barry, Livermore, Gibbs, Rondon,
Rodriguez (Burke 70)
Subs Not Used Nyom, Robson-Kanu, Brunt, Myhill
Booked Rondon, Yacob
Goals
Chelsea Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c),
Zappacosta, Kante (Willian 77), Bakayoko, Alonso, Fabregas (Drinkwater 67),
Morata, Hazard (Pedro 71)
Subs Not Used Caballero, Rudiger, Ampadu, Luiz
Booked Hazard. Fabregas, Morata
Goals Morata 17, Hazard 23, 62, Alonso 38
Attendance 23,592
Referee Jon Moss