Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel suffered their first defeat with Saturday’s visitors to Stamford Bridge West Brom exhibited a splendid performance to seal all three points in what was a major setback for Tuchel’s Champions League hopefuls.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
It was the Blues who enjoyed an eventful opening quarter of the first-half as attacking opportunities were aplenty but the likes of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech were unable to get the better of West Brom goalie Sam Johnstone.
Chelsea’s control on the game was duly rewarded when Christian Pulisic slotted in the finish from close range after Marcos Alonso’s effort had struck the post and fallen the path of the American international.
However, the joy was short-lived for Thomas Tuchel’s men as Pulisic’s opener was followed up by marching orders for the returning Thiago Silva who picked up a second booking in the 29th minute.
West Brom suitably upped the ante in their favour and it was Pereira who made the most of being left unmarked to steer the ball past Mendy in the Chelsea goal.
The Baggies forward doubled his account just moments later with another strike to his name as the visitors led the 10-man Chelsea 2-1 going into the half-time break.
Despite the hosts seeking to maintain hold of the proceedings early on in the closing 45 minutes, Callum Robinson played the ultimate spoilsport by volleying a Darnell Furlong cross into the back of the net.
Mbaye Diagne was on course to make it 4-1 for Sam Allardyce’s side just five minutes after Robinson’s superb effort and the match looked all but sealed in West Brom’s favour only for Mason Mount to provide some solace to the Chelsea fans with a goal 20 minutes from the full-time whistle.
Our unbeaten start under Thomas Tuchel comes to an end at the Bridge. #CHEWBA pic.twitter.com/esK8wgKqzT
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 3, 2021
West Brom had no plans to stay put despite their tremendous lead and Robinson too doubled his tally for the afternoon with another strike to his name in stoppage time as Tuchel’s west Londoners failed to extend the new boss’s 14-game-long unbeaten streak.
