Chelsea FC Drop Two Points at West Brom
Chelsea FC traveled to The Hawthorns today to face West Bromwich Albion in the Barclay’s Premier League. West Brom started the day in the relegation zone and Chelsea came in with the chance to go four points clear at the top.
The first half was a cagey affair as Chelsea maintained most of the possession but could not create the opener despite a series of early corners. West Brom threatened in the opening five minutes and Oscar responded on the other end but a poor touch in the box let Foster collect the ball easily. Both sides traded chances as the half wore on with West Brom’s Thievy Bifouma and Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o coming closest but neither could finish. Willian took several long range shots at Foster’s goal but none were on target and the England international keeper was rarely tested.
On what seemed like the 100th corner of the first half for Chelsea, the cross was flicked across the box by David Luiz and was coolly finished by Branislav Ivanovic to give the Blues the lead. The goal came in stoppage time and was just what Chelsea needed to cap off a half in which they dominated play and possession.
The second half was a much more open affair and Oscar had the best early chance from a poor clearance by Claudio Yacob but he shot well wide. Eto’o and Willian both threatened again and again for the Blues but nothing would come of it as Foster did well to save from both attackers.
Entering the final twenty minutes of the match, West Brom looked the side more likely to score as they threatened through Bifouma, Brunt, and Morrison. John Obi Mikel comes on in the 78th minute to try and see out the game and West Brom bring on Anichebe to try and nick a goal and that they did. Anichebe scored with a close range header off a nice cross by Berahino for a well deserved West Brom goal.
Chelsea brought on Mohamed Salah to try to and chase the game but to no avail and the match ended in a draw. Another dull midweek affair for the Blues and another two points dropped against a side they should have beaten. Fatigue seemed to be an issue as much of the Chelsea lineup remained the same from the victory over Newcastle just three days ago. An injection of pace was needed to the game and substitutes Andre Schuerrle and Salah could have done well to run in to space but neither got the start.
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