HOME     I     CURRENT SEASON     I     CLUB DIRECTORY     I     HISTORY         SEASON ARCHIVE     I     PLAYER ARCHIVE     I     THE HAWTHORNS     I     WEBSITE
      MATCH PREVIEW


WEST BROMWICH ALBION v CHELSEA
Barclays Premier League
Monday 18th May 2015, 8pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 133rd league and cup meeting between Albion and Chelsea. The Blues currently lead the way in terms of victories with 55 compared to Albion's 42.

Albion's last game on May 18 came back in 1982 when the Baggies beat Leeds United 2-0 at The Hawthorns in a First Division clash that as good as condemned Leeds to relegation. Cyrille Regis and Steve Mackenzie scored the hosts' goals.

Chelsea's last game on this date took place in 2009, the Blues beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 in a Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge.

Tony Pulis has won only one of his 12 Premier League matches as a manager against Chelsea (W1 D2, L9).

The Baggies have conceded a league-high 20 goals from set pieces this season (including penalties). However, only Arsenal (21) have scored more set-piece goals than Albion (20).

Saido Berahino will start his 50th game for the Baggies if selected in the starting XI.

Albion's last six games: Newcastle United (A) 1-1; Manchester United (A) 1-0; Liverpool (H) 0-0; Crystal Palace (A) 2-0; Leicester City (H) 2-3; Queens Park Rangers (H) 1-4.

Chelsea's last six games: Liverpool (H) 1-1; Crystal Palace (H) 1-0; Leicester City (A) 3-1; Arsenal (A) 0-0; Manchester United (H) 1-0; Queens Park Rangers (A) 1-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis will have an almost fully fit squad to choose from ahead of the visit of the Premier League champions with only goalkeeper Ben Foster expected to be missing.

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is set to hand a number of fringe players, including former Albion starlet Izzy Brown, a place in his starting line-up. However, Ramires, Kurt Zouma and Oscar are all out.

Diego Costa could return after missing the last six weeks with a hamstring injury.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 16/5, Chelsea Win: EVS, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Ideye 7/1, Berahino 7/1, Sessegnon 9/1, Gardner 10/1, Anichebe 10/1, Brunt 12/1, Morrison 12/1, McManaman 16/1, Mulumbu 16/1, Dawson 20/1, Fletcher 20/1, McAuley 20/1, Lescott 20/1, Baird 25/1, Yacob 33/1, Olsson 33/1.

Chelsea: Costa 4/1, Solanke 11/2, Hazard 11/2, Remy 11/2, Drogba 6/1, Brown 6/1, Cuadrado 10/1, Willian 10/1, Fabregas 12/1, Loftus-Cheek 14/1, Ivanovic 16/1, Terry 20/1, Matic 20/1, Christensen 25/1, Cahill 25/1, Ake 25/1.

No Goalscorer: 17/2.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Jones has refereed two Albion games so far this season - the 0-0 draw at Sunderland in February and the 2-1 defeat at home against West Ham United in December.

The Cheshire official took charge of one Albion game during 2013/14 - the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal in May.

He has taken charge of one Chelsea game this season - the 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge in November.

Jones has issued 109 yellow cards and nine red in the 32 games he has officiated so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are on sale to season ticket holders, members and supporters with a booking history on the ticketing database.

They are priced at £39 adults, £29 seniors (over-60s), £25 Under-21s/students and £15 under-17s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Light rain showers, 9°C

FIXTURE HISTORY

The first ever league meeting of the two clubs came at Stamford Bridge in September 1905, just months after the London club had been formed. Albion lost that initial Division Two game 1-0 with Bob McRoberts scoring for the home side. The return game at The Hawthorns in January ended in a 1-1 draw, Jack Manners the Albion scorer.

Albion's best league victory over the Londoners is 5-2, a scoreline achieved twice - away at Stamford Bridge in April 1929 when Tommy Glidden hit a hat-trick, and at The Hawthorns in October 1953 when the late, great, Ronnie Allen notched a treble. Allen had a fantastic scoring record against the Blues, hitting 14 goals in 19 league games between the sides.

The Baggies also registered a 8-1 win in October 1945 at The Hawthorns in a Football League South meeting, Ike Clarke scoring four of the goals The game came just a week after the two clubs had shared 11 goals at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea coming out on top in that one 7-4.

Chelsea's best victory over Albion came at Stamford Bridge in December 1960 when five goals from the legendary Jimmy Greaves helped the Blues to a easy 7-1 victory.

Albion have a poor recent record against Chelsea, winning just two of the last 27 league and cup games, although the Baggies have lost just two of the last six.

Albion's last victory at Stamford Bridge came in November 1983 when Ron Wylie's men beat the Londoners 1-0 in a League Cup 3rd round tie whilst the club's last league victory in West London came in September 1978, Albion running out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Cyrille Regis, John Wile and Tony Brown.

The Baggies have won two and drawn one of their last three games against Chelsea at The Hawthorns.

A full fixture history between the two teams can be found here

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

(Click on game to view)

Saturday 3 March 2012 - Albion 1-0 Chelsea - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 4 March 2006 - Albion 1-2 Chelsea - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 4 January 1997 - Chelsea 3-0 Albion - FA Cup 3rd Round - Stamford Bridge
Wednesday 22 September 1993 - Albion 1-1 Chelsea - League Cup Second Round 1st Leg - The Hawthorns
Saturday 7 August 1993 - Albion 3-0 Chelsea - Pre-Season Friendly - The Hawthorns
Saturday 8 April 1989 - Albion 2-3 Chelsea - Second Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 30 September 1978 - Chelsea 1-3 Albion - First Division - Stamford Bridge
Saturday 1 March 1969 - Chelsea 1-2 Albion - FA Cup Quarter Final - Stamford Bridge
Saturday 12 February 1949 - Albion 3-0 Chelsea - FA Cup 5th Round - The Hawthorns

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 1-1 Chelsea
Barclays Premier League
Tuesday 11th February 2014, 8:00pm

Albion: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Dawson, Ridgewell; Amalfitano (Anichebe 73), Morrison, Yacob (Mulumbu 63), Brunt (c); Berahino; Thievy (Vydra 78). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Lugano, Dorrans, Gera.

Goalscorer: Anichebe 87

Booked: Amalfitano 41 (foul), Yacob 50 (persistent fouling)

Chelsea: Cech (c); Ivanovic, Cahill, D Luiz, Azpilicueta; Ramires (Salah 89), Matic; Willian, Oscar (Mikel 78), Hazard; Eto’o (Torres 69). Subs not used: Schwarzer (gk), Cole, Lampard, Schurrle.

Goalscorer: Ivanovic 45+3

Booked: Willian 67 (persistent fouling), Ivanovic 77 (dissent), Luiz 81 (foul)

Attendance: 24,327

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Victor Anichebe grabbed a late equaliser for West Brom on a night when Jose Mourinho's Chelsea barely looked like potential Barclays Premier League champions. Chelsea were poised to move four points clear at the top of the table on the back of defender Branislav Ivanovic's injury-time strike in the first half at The Hawthorns. But substitute Anichebe flicked home his third goal of the season in the 87th minute to make it 1-1 and thwart the Blues, who had lost on their last two visits to this part of the West Midlands.

After all the hype in the wake of their stunning win at Manchester City and Eden Hazard-inspired thumping of Newcastle on Saturday, Mourinho's side were undoubtedly off the boil against the Baggies. Perhaps Mourinho does have a point after all, that his side are the "little horses" in this year's championship race, as Arsenal and City will have the chance to take over at the summit on Wednesday. Only Willian can claim to have had an impressive game as it was he who primarily pulled the strings, and who crucially set up the only goal of the first half just as Albion were on the brink of heading into the interval on the back of a creditable 0-0 scoreline. From Willian's corner into the near post, centre-back David Luiz was left unmarked to flick the ball on with his right foot to the far post where Ivanovic slotted home from three yards.

After the break Willian enjoyed a further three driven efforts, all of which were superbly saved by home goalkeeper Ben Foster. At least the home side showed greater attacking intent in the second period as James Morrison fired wide, Thievy Bifouma flashed a shot through the six-yard box, while skipper Chris Brunt hammered a half volley beyond the left-hand post. With Anichebe on for Bifouma in the 73rd minute, the Nigerian glanced home Saido Berahino's cross three minutes from time to lift Albion back out of the relegation zone.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Academy starlet Isaiah Brown made his debut for Albion on 4 May 2013 against Wigan Athletic at The Hawthorns, becoming the second-youngest player in Premier League history at the age of 16 years and 117 days. He joined Chelsea in a controversial move in July 2013.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Nicolas Anelka, Neil Clement, Stan Crowther, Shaun Cummings, Warren Cummings, Alan Dickens, Perry Digweed, Tony Godden, Bobby Gould, Derek Kevan, Romelu Lukaku, Jimmy Millar, Paddy Mulligan, Frank Nouble, Fred Richardson, Graham Roberts, Fred Rouse, Frank Sinclair, Scott Sinclair, David Speedie, Kenny Swain, Mickey Thomas and Andy Townsend.
  
Former Baggies’ boss Steve Clarke spent 11 years as a player with
Chelsea between 1987-98, making 421 appearances. He also spent four years coaching the Blues' first-team; Roberto Di Matteo managed both clubs having previously had a lengthy spell as a Chelsea player, whilst another former Blues' player Eddie Newton, was Di Matteo's assistant at both The Hawthorns and Stamford Bridge; Former Albion manager Jack Smith was a player for Chelsea prior to the Second World War; World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst had a short spell as a player at The Hawthorns before later managing the London club; Ex-Albion player and manager Don Howe had a spell as Chelsea coach; Former Baggies' goalkeeper Bob Ward would later act as Chelsea physio; Former sprint champion Ade Mafe has acted as fitness coach for both clubs.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS CHELSEA

 VENUE P W D  L F A
 Home 64 25 17 22 103 76
 Away 66 17 17 32 85 130
 Neutral 2 0 1 1 1 5
 Total 132 42 35 55 189 211

LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST CHELSEA

 DATE COMPETITION H/A F-A SCORERS     GATE
 Sat 22 Nov 2014 Premier League A 0-2 Costa, E Hazard    41,600
 Tue 11 Feb 2014 Premier League H 1-1 Anichebe - Ivanovic    24,327
 Sat 09 Nov 2013 Premier League A 2-2 Long, Sessegnon - Eto'o, E Hazard (pen)    41,623
 Sat 02 Mar 2013 Premier League A 0-1 Ba    41,548
 Sat 17 Nov 2012 Premier League H 2-1 Long, Odemwingie - E Hazard    25,933
 Sat 03 Mar 2012 Premier League H 1-0 McAuley    24,838
 Sat 20 Aug 2011 Premier League A 1-2 Long - Anelka, Malouda    41,091
 Sat 16 Apr 2011 Premier League H 1-3 Odemwingie - Drogba, Kalou, Lampard    25,163
 Sat 14 Aug 2010 Premier League A 0-6 Malouda 2, Drogba 3, Lampard    41,589
 Fri 26 Dec 2008 Premier League A 0-2 Drogba, Lampard    41,090


 

  HOME      CURRENT SEASON       CLUB DIRECTORY      HISTORY      SEASON ARCHIVE      PLAYER ARCHIVE      THE HAWTHORNS      WEBSITE  
 © www.albiontillwedie.co.uk unless otherwise stated