Thursday, February 15, 2018

West Brom 3-0



Guardian:


Eden Hazard and Victor Moses relieve Chelsea pressure in West Brom win


Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge


It was only when the third goal bulged West Brom’s net as this contest drifted into its final quarter, with Eden Hazard punching the air in celebration, that Chelsea could truly relax and bask in a restorative victory.

The Belgian had darted across the edge of the area away from a floundering Jonny Evans before ripping a shot inside Ben Foster’s near post. It was the kind of emphatic finish to breathe belief back into the ranks of the doubters.


Hazard would suggest post-match that Thierry Henry’s input with the Belgium national squad has encouraged that kind of snapshot, fired off before Foster could adjust his feet in anticipation of it. In truth neither centre-half nor goalkeeper could match Hazard’s speed of thought or mastery of execution and that was what in effect set the champions apart. The visitors competed ruggedly enough, recovering from the loss of Daniel Sturridge inside the opening few minutes to test local nerves, but were unpicked and undone by those dashes of quality. Their predicament is troubling. Chelsea, in contrast, are fourth, three points off second.

How they needed an occasion like this, when luck was with them and ruthlessness restored to their approach. Those desperate displays and hefty defeats by Bournemouth and Watford shocked this squad to its core. Had Jay Rodriguez, early on, not snatched at his shot in front of goal, dragging the effort wide after Victor Moses nervously headed a loose ball into his path, then all those anxieties might have flooded back. The same might have applied had Salomón Rondón’s booming header not flown wide or, when Chelsea’s lead was still narrow, had Thibaut Courtois not instinctively denied the Venezuelan after he had bullied Andreas Christensen off the ball early in the second half.

Evans, rising at the resulting corner, guided a free header high and wide. Had one of those chances gone in, then Albion, even as a team who have forgotten how to win, might yet have piggybacked on Chelsea’s anxieties to prosper. “I know what this place is like; it can turn,” said Alan Pardew.


Yet, with each opportunity missed by the visitors, Chelsea were roused further out of their lethargy with Hazard and Olivier Giroud steadily finding their feet. That partnership already looks promising, for all that the Frenchman ended only his second Premier League start of the season with his head bandaged courtesy of Ahmed Hegazi’s boot and bruised on his calf after Evans’ foul.

It was his subtle touch, holding off the Egyptian centre-half, from Hazard’s fizzed pass that helped squeeze out the lead. The playmaker, such a livewire, darted at pace away from Gareth Barry and planted his shot into the corner with a flourish before any visiting player could react. That rather summed it all up. He was operating on a different plain, thriving on Giroud’s Arsenal-esque touches. “He is a great target man, maybe one of the best in England,” said Hazard. “He is a good point of reference.”

That was missing in those two recent defeats, where Chelsea’s front-line lacked presence and power, and Hazard was forced to scurry from the centre in search of the ball in areas opponents could contain his threat. Here he could revel in that free role confident that first Giroud and then Álvaro Morata, recovered from a back injury to emerge off the bench for the final half-hour after a month-long absence, would lead the line. Pedro’s selfless running, dragging markers out of position, and Cesc Fàbregas’s probing from the centre were just as significant. It was the latter’s prod into the box that Craig Dawson deflected into Victor Moses’ path, with the wing-back duly converting the second.


Each setback had Pardew cursing on the sidelines. Albion must be one of the great mysteries of this season, a squad who, on paper, look to have enough quality to be mid-table but who, instead, have now won once in 25 league games. They are seven points adrift of safety and even five from 19th.

They depart for Barcelona and some warm- weather training on Tuesday, though even now their prospects of revival seem to hinge on the results of a scan on Sturridge’s hamstring. His first sprint towards the corner, inside the opening two minutes, was enough to leave him wincing in pain and signalling for a replacement.

His history of injuries is well known – the strains, pulls and tears have cost him 120 senior games already in his career – but Pardew had been praying his loan arrival from Liverpool would add much needed bite. It is true to their dismal luck that, already, Sturridge has gravitated towards a new treatment room, with his new team anchored to the foot of the table.



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Telegraph:

Chelsea 3 West Brom 0: Eden Hazard steals the show as Stamford Bridge sings for Antonio Conte


Jeremy Wilson


The performance might have again often lacked conviction but the verdict from the Chelsea supporters was still unequivocal. A sequence of consecutive Premier League defeats had been halted and Chelsea are back into the Premier League’s top four ahead of pivotal FA Cup and Champions League fixtures, but this match was still most notable for the booming chant of one single word.

“Antonio,” sung the Chelsea fans in a clear and repeated message to owner Roman Abramovich that they are not ready to give up on their Premier League-winning manager.

“Thanks to the fans - they show me great support,” said Antonio Conte. “They are reading speculation and rumours about me. They understood my passion and will to defend this shirt and badge. I am grateful. It’s very important to feel this atmosphere and that people are appreciating my work here in Chelsea.”

Eden Hazard’s inspired match-winning performance suggested that he shares Stamford Bridge’s emphatic assessment, with the Belgian first linking with Olivier Giroud to put Chelsea ahead before cutting inside to deliver a breathtaking finish at Ben Foster’s near post to seal what is only Conte’s third victory in 2018.

Conte blew kisses to his wife in the stands and, while this was a night that will certainly ease recent pressure, Hazard’s individual contribution should not mask wider flaws. Chelsea’s confidence clearly remains bruised following the concession of seven goals against Bournemouth and then Watford and it was noticeable how West Brom were almost rewarded for the bold decision of manager Alan Pardew to attack the reigning champions.

Loan signing Daniel Sturridge had started as a second striker alongside Salomon Rondon in a 3-5-2 formation but the plan suffered a serious set-back after just three minutes when the England forward landed awkwardly and immediately signalled that his involvement had ended.


Another striker in Jay Rodriguez was introduced and West Brom did still put Chelsea under considerable early pressure. Rodriguez soon had a sight of goal and, despite shooting wide, Cesc Fabregas followed in with a late challenge that resulted in a plausible penalty appeal. Matt Phillips’ volleyed cross was then also headed narrowly wide by Rondon.

An even better chance followed when Victor Moses misjudged a headed clearance back across his own goal and, with Fabregas not tracking back, into Rodriguez’s path. Rodriguez, though, appeared shocked to suddenly find himself in so much space and pulled his finish wide.

Chelsea were very definitely wobbling but still the chants echoing all around Stamford Bridge were for Conte and his team did finally begin to establish their rhythm. First Pedro and then Eden Hazard presented chances for Giroud to score on his full Chelsea debut but, displaying a weakness that had so often frustrated Arsenal, his finishes were erratic.

Giroud’s lack of pace was also occasionally evident as Chelsea upped their tempo but it was not long before he did demonstrate his great quality. Hazard was causing increasing panic in the West Brom defence with his direct running and, after gliding past one challenge, played the ball into Giroud’s feet. The France striker had his back to goal but a glancing assist was perfectly weighted for Hazard simply to continue his run and shoot powerfully beyond Foster with his right foot.


Giroud was also displaying physical bravery and, already wearing a bandage after an earlier head injury, required lengthy treatment to his achilles following Jonny Evans’ tackle from behind. There was sufficient discomfort to raise questions over whether he would re-emerge for the second half but the only change was to West Brom, with Pardew bringing on Oliver Burke to provide further attacking support for Rondon and Rodriguez.

A second sustained period of pressure followed, with Burke sprinting behind Davide Zappacosta down Chelsea’s left and only a wonderful sliding tackle from Cesar Azpilicueta preventing his pass from reaching Rondon on the edge of the six-yard box. Rondon then simply shrugged off Andreas Christensen to force a low save of Thibaut Courtois. From the resulting corner, Evans directed a free header wastefully wide.

A bloodied and bruised Giroud did eventually make way for Alvaro Morata to play his first game for almost a month. He was not directly involved but Chelsea immediately extended their lead, with Moses powering into the penalty area and then passing to Fabregas, whose attempted flick cannoned off Craig Dawson to inadvertently dissect West Brom’s defence. Moses had not stopped running and finished calmly past Foster.

Chelsea were finally comfortable and Hazard duly stepped up with his flash of individual brilliance.


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Mail:


Chelsea 3-0 West Brom: Eden Hazard at the double against lowly Baggies as Antonio Conte's side get Champions League pursuit back on track

By Martin Samuel for the Daily Mail


They sang his name and, each time they did, Antonio Conte acknowledged that support with respectful applause. At the end the emotion poured out, and he put his fingers to his lips and blew kisses.

On nights like this, when Eden Hazard is firing, the love of the common people is audible and the win is comfortable, it is hard to believe a Chelsea manager could ever be on the rocks in the middle of the season.

Yet that is the conundrum of Stamford Bridge. Monday night’s opponents have already seen off two Chelsea managers in the Roman Abramovich era, being the last league opponents for both Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo. Some thought Conte might go the same way if he lost a third straight game for the first time since he was manager at Atalanta in 2009.


Yet this West Brom are a very different proposition — rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and losing ground week by week. Chelsea did not have it all their own way but their goals were well taken, their team shape was recognisable after the hodgepodge at Watford and their players put a shift in, which Conte desperately needed. A week ago, the performance brought back memories of that last Jose Mourinho season. This was the bounce Mourinho couldn’t get back then.

How different Chelsea’s short-term prospects look this morning, By the end of this week, they should be in the FA Cup quarter-finals — Hull, at home on Friday, are their fifth-round opponents — and anticipating the Champions League visit of Barcelona. This victory also returned them to the top four, at the expense of Tottenham. Normal service has resumed, for now at least.

Hazard has returned, too. West Brom are his favourite opposition and his two goals here took his league tally against them to seven, his best haul against any club. Both were perfectly taken but the second drew the biggest roar. Hazard collected the ball on the right corner of the penalty area, turned, came inside, got it on his favoured left foot and hit a low near-post shot of such ferocity and precision that goalkeeper Ben Foster might as well have bought a ticket for all the influence he could have on it.

By then, however, the game was pretty much over. Chelsea’s second had brought proceedings to a halt, punishing West Brom for a squandered chance to equalise shortly before. Salomon Rondon spurned this opportunity having out-muscled Andreas Christensen, and West Brom were made to pay. Instead of drawing level, they soon went a dispiriting two goals down.

Victor Moses surged into the box from the right and laid the ball to Cesc Fabregas, who attempted its return with an inventive back-heel flick. Instead of immediately finding its intended target, the ball took a ricochet off defender Craig Dawson but reached Moses anyway. His shot left Foster no chance and the result moved beyond doubt.

It was a strange atmosphere at Stamford Bridge to begin with: a little flat, a tad apprehensive. Not the sort of mood one would traditionally associate with the champions, or even a team in contention for a top-four place — certainly not when playing the bottom club.

Yet Chelsea’s form feeds trepidation and so it proved. West Brom actually started with more confidence. There were six minutes gone when Matt Phillips hit an excellent cross from the right, which Rondon should at least have got on target. Just five minutes later, a mistake by Moses inadvertently set up West Brom substitute Jay Rodriguez. He was one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois but panicked and snatched at his shot from distance, putting a weak effort well wide.

That West Brom had a substitute on so early was symptomatic of the type of luck that seems to hamper the doomed. Daniel Sturridge was brought in from Liverpool last month to transform West Brom’s season. An England striker, he was the type of good break every club down the bottom hopes to get. But there is a reason he is surplus to Jurgen Klopp’s requirements at Liverpool, and it surfaced here.

Just three minutes in he challenged Cesar Azpilicueta for a loose ball. Sturridge got a touch but tumbled over. It would be his only touch of the game. He went down, signalled to the bench that damage had occurred and his night was done.

If it is a longer-term knock the toll on West Brom is incalculable. They are running out of games now. They have won a single game in 25, but probably need at least five wins, maybe six, in their final 11 games to stay up. The odds are very much against them.


The Rodriguez scare spurred Chelsea into action. It made a difference having a target man in Oliver Giroud, and no doubt that was Azpilicueta’s intention when he whipped in a cross after 17 minutes. Giroud couldn’t get there but Davide Zappacosta did, stealing in at the back post but unable to beat Foster.

If there was a criticism of Giroud at Arsenal — and let’s face it, there was — it was that he needed too many chances to score a goal. Certainly, he should have got his first for Chelsea after 20 minutes when a low, square cross of great cunning from Hazard picked him out perfectly. He had time, his position was perfect but he shot straight at Foster. Four minutes later, however, he made up for it.

This was Hazard’s goal, and Hazard’s lovely invention that undid West Brom, but Giroud did his bit. Hazard received the ball outside the area and charged, laying it off to Giroud, who returned the perfect wall pass. Hazard, momentum up, gauged the target area and let fly. Foster had no chance. Relief inside the stadium was palpable.

Still, if Giroud’s play was not always convincing — he was substituted after 60 minutes having given a series of passes away — his bravery was. He took an accidental kick in the head — he was on the floor at the time, there was no malice — from Ahmed Hegazi just before half-time. Plenty of claret, plenty of bandages.

That didn’t stop him from attempting a header from a Pedro cross soon after, or from soldiering on despite a rather more vindictive kicking from Jonny Evans shortly before half-time. He was what Chelsea have needed. So was this.


Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 7, Christensen 6.5 (Cahill 74), Rudiger 7; Moses 6.5, Kante 7, Fabregas 7, Zappacosta 6.5; Pedro 7 (Willian 80), Giroud 7 (Morata 61 6.5), Hazard 9.

Subs: Caballero, Ampadu, Emerson, Drinkwater.

Goals: Hazard 25, 71; Moses 63

Conte: 7.5

West Brom (3-5-2): Foster 5; Dawson 6, Hegazi 6.5, Evans 6.5; Phillips 6, Brunt 5 (Burke 46, 6), Barry 6.5 (Yacob 80), Krychowiak 5.5, Gibbs 6.5; Sturridge 4 (Rodriguez 4, 6), Rondon 5.

Subs: Myhill, Nyom, Yacob, McClean, McAuley. Booked: Evans, Gibbs.

Pardew: 5.5

Referee: Lee Mason - 6

Att: 41, 071

MOM: Hazard

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