Chelsea remain unbeaten under Guus Hiddink but this heated match on a cold night ended in much frustration for the champions. West Bromwich Albion had riled both the crowd and Diego Costa, while James McClean’s late goal ensured they stay three points clear of Hiddink’s side in the bottom half of the table.
Costa flew into a challenge at the start of the second half and was furious at the final whistle, following a match where West Brom twice pulled level. The Spain forward appeared to hit out at the tunnel after the final whistle following an attempt to confront the opposition goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill, on the pitch.
Chelsea showed glimpses of their old self, producing a fair number of chances with Costa moving well up front, but defensive concerns remain and West Brom deserved a point. César Azpilicueta had given the home side the lead – scoring only his second league goal, both against Albion – but twice they were pulled back. Craig Gardner equalised in the first half before McClean cancelled out Gareth McAuley’s own goal with four minutes remaining.
“At the end I think it’s a fair result although in the first half after 1-0 we had a few chances to go 2-0, which didn’t happen,” said Hiddink. “Then we conceded an unfortunate goal and let them penetrate too easily. It was a very entertaining game, high speed and intensity from both sides.”
On Costa’s frenetic night, he joked: “We can repair that [the tunnel] easily. He’s an emotional guy and I like that very much.”
It was the referee, Anthony Taylor, who was the subject of Chelsea supporters’ ire, with Albion taking their time at set pieces and throw-ins throughout the match. Jonas Olsson was one of three changes Tony Pulis made from Albion’s previous league match, the 2-1 win over Stoke City, Salomón Rondón starting up front with McClean in an attacking three behind him, while Pedro replaced the injured Eden Hazard for Chelsea.
Costa did well to control and hold up a direct ball after 20 minutes, laying off to Willian who fed Branislav Ivanovic wide on the right. The full-back’s low cross evaded all the men in red and the masked Azpilicueta came flying in at the far post to muscle in and finish.
The lead lasted only 13 minutes, however. Gardner, who had been brought on for the injured James Morrison in the seventh minute, received the ball in a central attacking position after Pedro had dawdled in possession on the left, following good hustling from McClean. Gardner took one touch before shooting low into the bottom corner from 25 yards, puncturing the earlier optimism. The half ended with the crowd becoming increasingly frustrated, while Costa berated Taylor after he blew for half-time when Chelsea were poised to launch a counterattack.
The ill-feeling on the pitch grew as the game wore on, home supporters vexed by West Brom’s time-wasting. Things did not get easier for the referee either. In the 49th minute Costa, so annoyed before half-time, flew in late and at pace on Gardner, but the challenge resulted in only a yellow card.
As the noise increased and the rain began to fall, Chelsea broke swiftly down the left through the substitute Kenedy, who had been brought on by Hiddink to replace Pedro. As the 19-year-old carried the ball forward, Costa was tripped by Claudio Yacob in a central position. The Albion midfielder was already on a yellow but Taylor judged that it was an unintentional foul.
Just as West Brom were beginning to look dangerous, Chelsea struck again. Cesc Fàbregas threaded a ball through to Willian, whose low cross was intended for the onrushing Kenedy. The Brazilian surged towards the near post and slid in to finish, but the last touch came off McAuley.
However, Chelsea’s lead was once more cancelled out. In the 86th minute Gardner swept the ball infield and it fell to McClean 20 yards out. The midfielder zipped a low shot past Thibaut Courtois and into the bottom corner.
Pulis said: “We just felt there were certain things to do during the game that might cause them problems. We didn’t want to sit, we wanted to press. I think that’s the fourth time where we’ve come from behind to get something from the game. That’s good character and spirit.”
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