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 |
|