Wednesday
13th January 2016, Barclays Premier League,
Stamford Bridge, Kick-Off 7:45pm |
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Chelsea |
2 -
2 |
West Bromwich Albion |
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1 - 1 |
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Azpilicueta (20) |
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Gardner (33) |
McAuley (73, own goal) |
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McClean (86) |
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Managers |
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Guus Hiddink |
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Tony Pulis |
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Starting XI |
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Thibaut Courtois |
|
Boaz Myhill |
Branislav Ivanović |
|
Craig Dawson |
Kurt Zouma |
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Gareth McAuley |
(c) John Terry |
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Jonas Olsson |
César Azpilicueta |
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Jonny Evans |
(Matić 78) Cesc Fàbregas |
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Claudio Yacob (Berahino 60) |
John Obi Mikel |
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Chris Brunt |
Willian |
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Darren Fletcher (c) |
Oscar |
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James Morrison (Gardner 7) |
(Kenedy HT) Pedro |
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James McClean |
Diego Costa |
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Salomón Rondón (Sessègnon 67) |
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Substitutes |
|
(gk) Asmir Begović |
|
Ben Foster (gk) |
Ramires |
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James Chester |
Kenedy |
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Craig Gardner |
Loïc Rémy |
|
Victor Anichebe |
Nemanja Matić |
|
Saido Berahino |
Gary Cahill |
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Callum McManaman |
Ruben Loftus-Cheek |
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Stéphane Sessègnon |
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Bookings |
|
(foul 49) Costa |
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Yacob (foul 25) |
(unsporting behaviour 70) Courtois |
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Myhill (time-wasting 68) |
(foul 85) Azpilicueta |
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McClean (unsporting behaviour 70) |
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Attendance:
40,945 |
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Referee:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire) |
Assistant 01:
Simon Long
(Cornwall) |
Assistant 02:
Darren Cann (Norfolk) |
Fourth Official:
Paul Tierney
(Lancashire) |
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Official Matchday
Programme |
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Chelsea's search for successive
Barclays Premier League wins this season goes on after James McClean's late
strike earned West Brom a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Cesar Azpilicueta's goal
was cancelled out by substitute Craig Gardner before Gareth McAuley deflected
Willian's cross into his own goal. The Baggies came from behind for a second
time when McClean struck four minutes from time as the visitors earned a
deserved point. Chelsea felt aggrieved and Diego Costa made his frustrations
known at the final whistle by arguing with Baggies players. Costa felt Claudio
Yacob, already booked for a first-half foul, should have received a second
yellow card for an off-the-ball trip on him early in the second half. The
midfielder was promptly substituted and referee Anthony Taylor was barracked by
Chelsea players and supporters thereafter.
The Blues are unbeaten in six
games since the departure of Jose Mourinho, but Guus Hiddink's hopes of a
top-four finish receded further in front of owner Roman Abramovich and ahead of
Saturday's clash with Everton. Chelsea began well. Costa glided by Jonny Evans
but shot wide and Willian fired off target either side of McClean heading off
target from Darren Fletcher's cross. James Morrison departed with an apparent
hamstring problem before Azpilicueta blocked a Fletcher effort and then scored
at the other end. Azpilicueta is less than prolific, but likes scoring against
West Brom. The full-back, who netted at The Hawthorns in August, claimed his
first goal at Stamford Bridge when he prodded in Branislav Ivanovic's cross at
the back post. There were holes aplenty in the visiting defence, but
Chelsea's
rearguard was porous too. The Baggies breached and exposed when Pedro gave the
ball away to Fletcher, who was influential for the visitors. Fletcher prodded it
to Gardner, who did the rest, shooting into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Costa ballooned an effort over and Salomon Rondon shot just wide as both sides
had chances to take an interval lead.
Pedro made his debut at The
Hawthorns and inspired
Chelsea
to a first win of the season, but his star has faded since. The subdued Spain
winger was withdrawn for Kenedy at half-time and the Brazilian gave Chelsea
much-needed pace and penetration in an increasingly disjointed contest. Costa
had no complaints when he was booked for a poor lunge on
Gardner
after losing control of the ball. Kenedy next powered down the left and Costa
looked to join the attack, only to tumble in front of Yacob. The Baggies
midfielder avoided punishment, prompting Chelsea complaints led by captain John
Terry. Yacob did go off, substituted for Saido Berahino. Chelsea continued to
press, with a deflected Costa effort going into the side-netting. McClean was
then booked for squaring up to Thibaut Courtois as the contest became more
niggly still. Chelsea took the lead for a second time when Willian's cross
deflected in off McAuley, who was under pressure from Kenedy. Costa was denied
and Kenedy shot wide before McClean equalised from the edge of the area after
Chelsea twice failed to clear.
Sporting Life
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