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      SEASON ARCHIVE : RESULTS - 2015/16
Sunday 23rd August 2015, Barclays Premier League, The Hawthorns, Kick-Off 1.30pm
West Bromwich Albion 2 - 3 Chelsea
  1 - 3  
Morrison (35 & 59) Pedro (20)
Costa (30)
Azpilicueta (42)
Managers
Tony Pulis José Mourinho
Starting XI
Boaz Myhill Thibaut Courtois
Craig Dawson Branislav Ivanović
Gareth McAuley Kurt Zouma
Jonas Olsson John Terry (c)
Chris Brunt César Azpilicueta
(Gnabry 78) Callum McManaman Nemanja Matić
(Gardner 88) James Morrison Cesc Fàbregas
(c) Darren Fletcher Pedro (Mikel 84)
Claudio Yacob Willian (Cahill 56)
(Lambert 60) James McClean Eden Hazard
Salomón Rondón Diego Costa (Falcao 78)
Substitutes
Serge Gnabry John Mikel Obi
Craig Gardner Gary Cahill
Rickie Lambert Radamel Falcao
(gk) Jack Rose Asmir Begović (gk)
James Chester Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Joleon Lescott Bertrand Traoré
Victor Anichebe Loïc Rémy
Bookings
(foul 37) McClean Matić (foul 17)
(dissent 71) McManaman  
Sent-Off
Terry (denying goalscoring opportunity 54)
Attendance: 23,256
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (County Durham)
Assistant 01: Simon Beck (Bedfordshire)
Assistant 02: Richard West (East Riding)
Fourth Official: Michael Jones (Cheshire)
Official Matchday Programme
Price: £3.50     Pages: 84     Issue: 02

NOTES
 
● 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.

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