Sunday 23rd August 2015,
Barclays Premier League, The Hawthorns, Kick-Off 1.30pm |
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West Bromwich Albion |
2 - 3 |
Chelsea |
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1 - 3 |
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Morrison (35 & 59) |
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Pedro (20) |
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Costa (30) |
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Azpilicueta (42) |
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Managers |
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Tony Pulis |
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José Mourinho |
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Starting XI |
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Boaz Myhill |
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Thibaut Courtois |
Craig Dawson |
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Branislav Ivanović |
Gareth McAuley |
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Kurt Zouma |
Jonas Olsson |
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John Terry (c) |
Chris Brunt |
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César Azpilicueta |
(Gnabry 78) Callum McManaman |
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Nemanja Matić |
(Gardner 88) James Morrison |
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Cesc Fàbregas |
(c) Darren Fletcher |
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Pedro (Mikel 84) |
Claudio Yacob |
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Willian (Cahill 56) |
(Lambert 60) James McClean |
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Eden Hazard |
Salomón Rondón |
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Diego Costa (Falcao 78) |
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Substitutes |
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Serge Gnabry |
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John Mikel Obi |
Craig Gardner |
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Gary Cahill |
Rickie Lambert |
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Radamel Falcao |
(gk) Jack Rose |
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Asmir Begović (gk) |
James Chester |
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek |
Joleon Lescott |
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Bertrand Traoré |
Victor Anichebe |
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Loïc Rémy |
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Bookings |
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(foul 37) McClean |
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Matić (foul 17) |
(dissent 71) McManaman |
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Sent-Off |
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Terry (denying goalscoring opportunity 54) |
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Attendance:
23,256 |
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Referee:
Mark Clattenburg (County Durham) |
Assistant 01:
Simon Beck (Bedfordshire) |
Assistant 02:
Richard West (East Riding) |
Fourth Official:
Michael Jones (Cheshire) |
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Official Matchday
Programme |
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Price:
£3.50
Pages: 84 Issue: 02 |
●
Salomón Rondón makes his full Albion debut. |
●
Serge Gnabry makes his Albion debut. |
●
James Morrison misses a 14th minute penalty after Callum McManaman had been
tripped by Nemanja Matić - Thibaut Courtois saved Morrison's fierce
spot-kick |
with an outstretched leg. |
MATCH
REPORT
Pedro struck a debut Chelsea
goal to inspire the champions to their first win of the season in a 3-2 victory
at West Brom as John Terry's wretched campaign continued.
Spain
winger Pedro opened the scoring following his reported £21million move from
Barcelona to set up a thrilling success for the 10-man visitors. Diego Costa and
Cesar Azpilicueta also netted before Terry was sent off for bringing down
Salomon Rondon after the break. The Blues skipper retained his place despite
being hauled off in Chelsea's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend but
doubts will grow over his future under Jose Mourinho. James Morrison missed a
first-half penalty but still scored twice as the Baggies gave Chelsea a scare,
but they are still looking for their first win of the Barclays Premier League
season.
Thibaut Courtois returned from
suspension while Kurt Zouma replaced the axed Gary Cahill, who dropped to the
bench. Saido Berahino was dropped by Baggies boss Tony Pulis, who decided the
striker was not in the right frame of mind after Albion rejected a bid from
Tottenham. The England Under-21 forward is understood to have been happy to play
but Pulis opted to replace him with £12million record signing Rondon. James
McClean and Callum McManaman also started and McManaman taunted Chelsea in the
hosts' fast start and won a penalty after 14 minutes. The ex-Wigan man darted
into the box and lured Nemanja Matic into a clumsy tackle which sent the winger
sprawling and referee Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot. Berahino would have
been on penalty duties had he played, so instead Morrison stepped up and his
drilled effort was turned over by Courtois' trailing leg. The Baggies were on
top, though, with Chelsea's
only danger coming from Costa, who fired an early shot wide. Craig Dawson headed
over after 17 minutes but the visitors look the lead as Pedro made an immediate
impact. He had been quiet but burst to life when Eden Hazard found him on the
edge of the box and his shot deflected in off Gareth McAuley. From then, Chelsea
took control and went 2-0 up on the half-hour following a counter-attack of
ruthless precision. Terry headed an Albion corner clear to Branislav Ivanovic,
who found Willian scampering clear. The midfielder picked out Pedro and his
cross-shot was finished by the unmarked Costa. The champions looked set for a
Sunday stroll at The Hawthorns but Morrison made amends for his penalty miss by
dragging the hosts back into the game. McClean launched a deep cross to Rondon,
who acrobatically cut the ball back to Morrison to fire in from 15 yards. But
the visitors regained their composure three minutes before the break. The
disappointing Cesc Fabregas lofted a clever ball to Costa who, wrestling with
McAuley, worked it to the unmarked Azpilicueta to find the corner from 15 yards.
Any hopes Chelsea had of a
comfortable win went out the window however when Terry was sent off nine minutes
after half-time. The defender allowed Rondon to escape after Chris Brunt's
excellent ball and clipped the striker, who was clean through, leaving
Clattenburg little choice. Five minutes later and the Baggies grabbed a lifeline
when Morrison claimed his second with a fine header from Brunt's cross which
flew in off the bar. The champions were on the back foot as Rondon and McManaman
went close while Costa had the chance to finish the game but fired over with 14
minutes left. Hazard dragged wide and Courtois saved Chelsea in stoppage time
when he produced a fine point-blank block to deny Rondon an equaliser.
Sporting Life
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