A goal apiece for Diego Costa and Eden Hazard was enough for Chelsea to stretch their unbeaten start to the season and move seven points clear of Southampton who play on Monday. The Baggies tried to defend deep but a red card to Claudio Yacob in the first-half meant that any hopes they had of getting something from the game was well and truly gone.
Here are the three major talking points.
Abramovich finally gets what he wanted
“The first half was brilliant, beautiful. Our football was high quality, another dimension. We were playing so well, so fast, so fluid.” José Mourinho’s post-match comments summed up the gulf in class between them and the rest of the Premier League at the moment. The unfortunate victims on Saturday, West Brom.
The Baggies did their best to keep the Blues at bay, but all of it was to no avail. Roman Abramovich has always been clamouring for beautiful, attractive football and the home side’s first half performance would have been music to his ears as the Blues simply played the visitors out of the park. Whether it was working space out wide or intricate one-touch passing in the centre, the Blues displayed an exhibition of football which showcased why they are not only the best team in the League, but also the best team to watch, when on song. If they can keep this up, then the title should be sewn up in no time. While their fans know better than to count their chickens before they hatch, on the evidence so far, there is no reason to see anything other than another League title for Mourinho.
Foster ensures parity in one-sided affair
When you are side that is fighting to stay in the League, you probably wouldn’t expect too much out of a trip to Chelsea. Having said that, last season, the Baggies were within a kick away from ending Mourinho’s unbeaten home record in the League in a similar scenario. But this time around, it wasn’t a close affair but looked more like a battering from a side who out-muscled, out-passed and out-paced the Baggies.
The only reason why the visitors were even able to come away from the game with their pride firmly intact was their keeper, Ben Foster. The English shot-stopper had one of those games where he looked unbreachable as the last line of defence and stopped almost everything that came his way. Even the two goals that he conceded were both defensive mistakes, which could’ve been avoided. In the end, Alan Irvine’s side leave London with a respectable thanks largely to the efforts of their keeper, who is getting better and better.
Blues learning from mistakes
One of the main reasons why Chelsea didn’t win the League last season was because of their performances against the mid-table sides. While their results against the big teams were no doubt impressive, their inability to beat the likes of Crystal Palace and West Brom was the reason why they lost out to City in the end. This time around, it looks as though there is going to be no repeat of that as the Blues simply keep marching on.
While nobody really expected West Brom to win, the ease with which the Blues saw off the Baggies was simply stunning. Without even getting out third gear, the home side managed to put in a performance that was enough for a comfortable home win. Given their impressive record against the big sides and their sublime home form, it is difficult to see past Chelsea for the title. Even though it is only November as Mourinho is keen to point out, if the Blues keep this up, not only will they have the title, but also stand a very good chance of going through the season unbeaten.