The race for the Premier League’s Champions League qualification places got significantly more intriguing on Saturday after 10-man Chelsea were shockingly beaten 5-2 at home by relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion.
Chelsea played for longer than an hour with 10 men after Thiago Silva was shipped off. Christian Pulisic put Chelsea ahead, but two goals from Costa Pereira – both in first-half stoppage time, guaranteed the guests (Albion) were ahead at halftime.
An astonishing volley from substitute Callum Robinson broadened West Brom’s lead and afterward Mbaye Diagne’s fine finish added a fourth, before Mason Mount’s tap-in reduced the deficit.
That was the 59th goal in 30 games that West Brom have yielded in the team this season but that didn’t alarm them, as Robinson got his second with a deft finish in the final minutes of the game.
Matheus Pereira of West Bromwich Albion scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match against Chelsea.
The win keeps West Brom’s survival hopes alive and moves Sam Allardyce’s team onto 21 points, seven behind fourth from base Newcastle United.
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West Brom’s triumph finished Chelsea’s 14-match unbeaten run under Thomas Tuchel. It’s the first run through Tuchel’s Chelsea has lost since he took over from Frank Lampard.
According to Chelsea’s Manager Tuchel, Silva’s red card was the game’s defining moment. Chelsea were however incapable to adapt to the circumstance.
Interestingly, West Bromwich Albion’s Robinson has scored five goals in the Premier League this season and surprisingly, they’ve all been against Chelsea. The game between the two teams in September 2020 at West Brom’s Hawthorns arena finished 3-3 after Chelsea had retaliated from 3-0 down.
