​

Image Source.​​​ | ​Licence Details.​​​

It's always tricky when the International break comes up on the back of a good run of form. When a team struggles, the International break is always a welcome relief but it sometimes halts the form of an in-form team. This happened to be the case as Chelsea's unbeaten run under their new manager Thomas Tuchel came to an abrupt end when West Brom stunned Chelsea at the bridge for their first game in 2 weeks.

Chelsea hosted West Brom and you would expect this to be an easy ride for Chelsea given their form of late.

Thiago Silva gave away a freekick on the edge of the box when he dragged down Pereira in the 4th minute but the resulting freekick was no threat to Chelsea whatsoever.

Chelsea drew the first blood in the 27th minute when Alonso's freekick struck the upright and it rebounded off the post into the path of Pulisic who made sure he bundled it home to register the first goal for Chelsea, 1-0.

The turning point of the game came in the 29th minute when Thiago Silva was shown a red card after having his studs up for a challenge on the edge of the box. Chelsea players were reduced to 10 men to tilt the advantage in West Brom's favour.

In the second minute of extra time, West Brom drew level when a long ball found Pereira who wasted no time and he lobbed the ball over the on-coming Mendy into the empty net. What a time to equalize, 1-1. The same man was at it again inside Chelsea's box when his dummy move created space for him to beat Mendy at his near post. It was 2 goals in quick succession and despite Chelsea's early domination in possession, West Brom went in on the break leading 2-1 after being behind before.

The second half started and in the 54th minute, Alonso almost dragged his team level when his effort was blocked off from going in by Tosin Adarabioyo after the goalkeeper fumbled his punch. Mason Mount also had a lovely freekick in the 55th minute that was just marginally off target. What a goal it would have been.

Mendy denied Robinson in the 61st minute but was helpless to deny him again in the 63rd minute when he volleyed home from a lovely cross that fell to him in the box to make it 3-1. 

West Brom players were not done when another pass was laid off for the on-rushing Diagne in the 68th minute. With composure and accuracy, he slotted the ball into the back of the net to make it 4-1 and put the game beyond Chelsea. At this point, Chelsea were playing for pride seeing how tasking it would be to turn this game around.

In the 71st minute, Chelsea halved the deficit when Alonso's pass found Timo Werner in the box, he coolly held on to the ball and passed it to Mason Mount who only had to slot it into the empty net. 

In the 91st minute, Robinson added more insult to the injury when he lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper into the empty net to make it 5-2. It was a good day for West Brom and an important 3 points in their struggle for survival in the Premier League. This would and should help their confidence going forward and a reality check for Tuchel and his men on what lies ahead.

​This Post Also Appeared Here.

​Steemit.

​Whaleshares.

​Blurt.​​​

Thank you for your time.

My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.

Still me,

My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.