The
pressure continues to build on Andre Villas-Boas after Chelsea tumbled to a
1-0 defeat to West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Gareth McAuley turned home the winner inside the final 10 minutes to give
the Baggies all three points and it was no less than the home side deserved.
Chelsea were subdued throughout and offered little after the break to
suggest there is any urgency in the camp turn things around.
And when Frank Lampard squandered a late chance it left Chelsea three points
behind Arsenal in the battle for fourth place with just one win in their
last six Premier League games.
In contrast, Roy Hodgson's side have now won three on the bounce in the
league and find themselves in the top half of the table.
It had been an even and entertaining game in the first half with James
Morrison testing Petr Cech as West Brom's high-tempo approach appeared to
unsettle Chelsea.
The visitors still had their moments, however, with Daniel Sturridge wasting
an excellent chance to give Chelsea the lead before the break.
And although Sturridge made a mess of another opportunity after the
interval, Albion were the better side by that point and it was little
surprise when McAuley grabbed his goal - heaping the pressure on Chelsea's
beleaguered boss.
Entertaining start
Chelsea threatened for the first time when Sturridge seized onto a casual
pass from Jonas Olsson and squared the ball across the Baggies box.
But Juan Mata failed to make proper contact on his attempted volley.
Mata did hit the target from a narrow angle after some neat one-touch
football. But Ben Foster was alert to the situation and blocked his shot at
the expense of a corner.
Liam Ridgewell came to Albion's rescue when he blocked a goalbound attempt
from Gary Cahill after a corner from Lampard had dropped invitingly into his
path 15 yards out.
Foster showed his class seven minutes before the interval when he leapt
acrobatically to turn aside a fierce Michael Essien effort.
The former England keeper reacted quickly to snatch the loose ball before
Didier Drogba could take advantage.
Sturridge should have broken the deadlock after 40 minutes after a superb
pass from Drogba created the opening.
But the striker screwed his attempt wide of the right-hand post after having
time to line up his shot.
Albion ended the first half with a flourish as Cahill deflected a Youssouf
Mulumbu shot just past the far post.
Sturridge missed another great chance to put the Blues in front after 55
minutes.
He ran onto a pass from Mata but then lacked the belief and confidence to
take the ball around Foster who had raced out of his area.
Albion were forced into a change after 55 minutes when Steven Reid limped
out of the action to be replaced by Gabriel Tamas.
Back in the game
The home side came back into the game and David Luiz did well to dispossess
Peter Odemwingie after he had taken a pass from Fortune in his stride.
Cech then beat out a fierce rising shot from Marc-Antoine Fortune.
Ridgewell became the first player to be yellow carded after 65 minutes for a
challenge on Ramires.
Albion enjoyed a purple patch and came close on three occasions to scoring
in the space of five minutes.
Cech turned over a fierce drive from the impressive Mulumbu and also reacted
sharply to block a low shot on the turn from Fortune.
Then it needed a last-ditch challenge from Ashley Cole to deny Chris Brunt
as he closed in on a Ridgewell centre.
Fernando Torres replaced Essien after 76 minutes and within three minutes
Keith Andrews had been booked for chopping down the striker.
But after 82 minutes McAuley put Albion ahead. Ridgewell drove Andrews' chip
across the area and McAuley diverted the ball past Cech
Cole was booked for fouling Albion substitute Shane Long who had replaced
Fortune.
Teams
West
Bromwich Albion
Foster, Reid
(Tamas 57), McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Andrews, Mulumbu, Morrison,
Odemwingie, Fortune (Long 84), Thomas (Brunt 64)
Subs Not Used
Fulop, Dorrans, Shorey, Cox
Booked
Ridgewell, Andrews, Brunt
Goals McAuley 82
Chelsea
Cech, Ivanovic (Meireles 84), Luiz, Cahill, Cole, Ramires, Essien
(Torres 76), Lampard, Sturridge (Malouda 63), Drogba, Mata
Subs Not Used
Turnbull, Romeu, Mikel, Hutchinson
Booked
Cole
Goals
Attendance
24,838
Referee
P. Dowd
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