Diego Costa cannot be immune from criticism or replacement at Chelsea

Consistent scoring is a striker’s minimum job requirement. Chelsea must hold Diego Costa to a higher standard than late goals punctuating otherwise empty games.

Diego Costa is doing just enough to keep Michy Batshuayi on the bench and the fans mostly on his side. He responded to his three-game scoring drought by scoring in his next three games. His goal against West Ham turned out to be the game-winner. And he remains third in Premier League scoring this season.

These marks mask a prolonged run of substandard play from Diego Costa. Costa has been a passenger at Chelsea for most of 2017, starting with his complete lack of influence in the key matchup with Tottenham. That match – even before the rumoured training ground row – was the first warning that Costa drifting off when the club most needed an aggressive centre-forward.

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Against West Ham on Monday, Costa was routinely several yards on the wrong side of West Ham’s defensive line. Particularly in the second half, Costa would be standing 5 yards offside watching Victor Moses or Pedro advance the ball on the right. Costa showed no indication of dodging on side to enable a pass. Chelsea’s ball carriers, then, had to wait for him to come on side or take on West Ham’s defence themselves.

Just as often, Costa would linger between West Ham’s defensive and midfield lines off the top of West Ham’s box. He was not shuffling for space nor using his body to open a pass lane. Eden Hazard or Pedro had to roll the play around him, as he did not offer himself as a target nor draw the defence towards him..

He was little better in possession. West Ham dispossessed Costa five times, more than any other player. That was the most Costa had lost the ball in a single game since Arsenal took the ball from him seven times in Chelsea’s 3-0 win.

Costa was second only to Pedro with three unsuccessful touches against West Ham. Costa was as unsure on his feet as he was with his feet. He repeatedly lost his balance along with the ball. Several Chelsea attacks foundered when Costa was unable to hold up play, retain possession or take the ball into a better passing position.

Diego Costa’s late goals against Wolves and Swansea were safety goals. They each gave Chelsea a two goal lead long after the opposition’s threat dissipated. His goal against West Ham was the ultimate poacher goal. He thumped a thigh onto a free ball off of a corner from a relatively open position a few yards from goal.

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Each of Costa’s last three goals were goals that any Premier League striker must score. They did not require a Diego Costa level of talent. Had a striker at a bottom-half club missed those opportunities he would have been rightly pilloried.

Cesc Fabregas’ return to Chelsea’s starting XI should unleash Costa against opposition defences and goalkeepers. Instead, Fabregas is looking for alternative targets and doing more on his own because his top target is uninterested in what is on offer.

Chelsea need, expect and must demand more from their star striker. Costa is capable of much more: more goals, more chances, better hold-up play and play off the ball. Instead, he is playing like a man who knows he is immune from criticism and secure in his role.

Michy Batshuayi is no more than a physical presence in Chelsea’s locker room. Whether the contract rumours are true or not, Dominic Solanke is still behind Batshuayi in the depth chart. The closest thing Diego Costa has as competition is Eden Hazard as a false nine. With Willian and Pedro being equivalently inconsistent in their respective ways, Antonio Conte will not play a striker-less front line.

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Diego Costa is checking off the boxes on a striker’s job description. Only time will tell if he is also marking off the days until his departure. Unfortunately for the club and Michy Batshuayi, the bare minimum seems to suffice for the time being from a man who should be the league’s most feared centre-forward. Chelsea deserve better, and Antonio Conte should demand it.