Premier League:

West Brom 0-3 Chelsea (17.30pm): The Hawthorns FULL-TIME

                        Bosingwa 34

                        Anelka 38, 45+1

West Brom: Carson; Zuiverloon, Meite (Donk 67), Olsson, Robinson; Koren, Morrison (Texeira 57), Greening, Valero; Miller, Bednar (Kim 46).

Subs: Kiely, Cech, Brunt, Kim, Moore, Texeira, Donk.

Chelsea: Cudicini; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Bridge; Lampard, Mikel, Deco, Kalou (Ballack 67); Anelka (Drogba 74), Malouda.

Subs: Hilario, A Cole, Drogba, Ballack, Sinclair, Ferreira, Miniero.

Referee: Steve Bennett.

MATCH REPORT:

Chelsea returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League table, after destroying West Brom in an 11 minute first-half spell, to clinch a 3-0 victory at the Hawthorns.

After Liverpool beat Bolton at lunchtime, Chelsea regained the league lead, but had John Terry to thank for thwarting Ishmael Miller on the edge of the area early on.

But, after Frank Lampard’s effort was repelled by Scott Carson shortly after, Chelsea seized the lead when Jose Bosingwa’s spectacular opener stung emphatically beyond Carson’s dive on 34 minutes, before Anelka added two expert finishes shortly after.

Anelka’s two goals mean the French striker has now notched 12 league goals in 13 matches this season, with the ex-Arsenal forward netting seven goals in his last three outings, including tonight’s game.

Chelsea should have added to their advantage after half-time, with Anelka, Kalou and Malouda all going close.

LIVE MATCH THREAD:

15 mins (17:47) Ishmael Miller breaks free in a swift counter-attacking move by West Brom, but can only drive his effort wide of goal.

16 mins (17:48) The game opens up after a quiet start, with Salomon Kalou’s effort from a tight angle struck poorly wide.

17 mins (17:49) John Terry slides in on Miller’s rampaging run on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area, with the Blues being penned back by the hosts. 

21 mins (17:53) Florent Malouda’s clever pass through to Frank Lampard, is controlled brilliantly by the England midfielder who forces Scott Carson to narrow his angle and produce a decent save. Chelsea are beginning to assert control in midfield, although West Brom remain an attacking threat on the break.

25 mins (17:57) Jose Bosingwa’s right-wing run results in the Portuguese delivering a high ball to the back post for Malouda to chest down towards Nicolas Anelka, who cannot gain sufficient contact inside the area and the ball is cleared.

26 mins (17:58) James Morrison and Miller combine neatly, with the former’s low ball from deep across the penalty area, evading everyone.

31 mins (18:03) Both sides are surrendering possession cheaply, with neither able to penetrate the opposition’s defence in the final third.

32 mins (18:04) Malouda’s mazy run and shot from 18 yards is thwarted by Carsson’s low save for West Brom. Much better football from Chelsea there.

34 mins (18:06) GOAL 0-1: Bosingwa strikes a superb effort after cutting in from the right touchline and with a left-footed drive from range, curls a beautiful drive beyond Carson, who can only tip the ball on to the bar and in. Chelsea have scored from nowhere.

35 mins (18:07) Malouda’s charging run and shot is eventually blocked by Jonas Olsson. Chelsea could have sealed the game before half-time there.

36 mins (18:08) Robert Koren drives a shot at Cudicini’s goal but the Italian, making a rare start in place of Petr Cech, produces a comfortable save.

37 mins (18:09) GOAL 0-2: Anelka scores his 11th Premier League goal of the season, driving a superb chipped finish past Carsson with his right foot after Abdoulaye Meite’s error on the left-wing. Chelsea look to have put the game beyond doubt before half-time, but will West Brom produce an astonishing comeback. 

41 mins (18:13) Anelka and Deco exchange passes in a scything central move, only for Deco’s pass to Kalou to be controlled poorly by the Ivorian and the move loses impetus.

42 mins (18:14) John Obi Mikel loses the ball after a “theatrical dive” according to BBC Radio Five Live and Paul Robinson’s header flashes wide after the hosts try to respond against Chelsea.

44 mins (18:16) Lampard and Deco almost find Anelka on the left edge of the penalty area, but the Frenchman can’t quite connect to a low through ball and West Brom escape with a goal kick.

45 mins +1 (18:18) GOAL 0-3: Deco and Kalou play a wonderful one-two, before Kalou finds Anelka who produces a calm finish past Carson at his near post for a comfortable 3-0 lead, just before the half-time whistle sounds. Chelsea’s superb display in the last 11 minutes of the first-half has completely altered the complexion of this match – which hopefully doesn’t sound too much of a cliche.

SECOND-HALF

48 mins (18:39) Malouda almost adds the gloss to Chelsea’s scoreline, but fails to apply the finish, as Carson denies the French winger with a strong block.

50 mins (18:41) Malouda’s run and cut-back to Lampard is eventually cleared by West Brom on the edge of the box. 

54 mins (18:45) Deco’s run and shot is deflected away by Olsson’s crucial block. Shortly after, Malouda’s run and low ball across to Anelka, who strikes towards the net, is diverted for a corner.

58 mins (18:49) Filipe Texeira almost makes a dramatic impact for West Brom, as coming on a substitute he shoots narrowly over from the edge of the d.

59 mins (18:50) Kalou’s drive dribbles wide after expert wing wizardry from Malouda, finds the Chelsea striker in the area in space, but the Blues are denied a fourth.

63 mins (18:54) A brilliant Chelsea passing move, which culminates in 10-12 passes, according to BBC Radio Five Live, results in Kalou thrashing a shot over the bar from 18 yards. Chelsea could well have recorded a lead in to double figures tonight.

68 mins (18:59) Lampard collides with Olsson on the edge of the West Brom box and catches his studs in the turf, but luckily recovers to his feet shortly afterwards. England boss Fabio Capello will heave a sigh of relief.

71 mins (19:02) Deco’s high corner, is miscontrolled by Carson, who flaps the ball in to the path of Anelka at the far-post, but the Frenchman misses the chance for a hat-trick as Olsson blocks the effort from close-range.

73 mins (19:04) Anelka’s cross-field ball to Malouda on the right, finds the ex-Lyon winger, who drags his shot tamely wide across goal, with Malouda showing disappointment at his poor finish. Meanwhile, Didier Drogba, who has been in the headlines this week, replaces tonight’s hero, Nicolas Anelka, up-front.

82 mins (19:13) West Brom, who have built a slight spell of pressure against Chelsea, almost score when Robinson’s long ball is tossed in to the area, only for substitute, Kim, to volley wide of goal.

84 mins (19:15) Chelsea respond via Deco’s incisive central midfield run, with the former Porto player providing a through-ball to Drogba on the wide right of the penalty area, only for Drogba’s cross back across the box to be clutched by Carson.

85 mins (19:16) Malouda’s flying header whistles wide of the target, with the winger missing a sitter. How have Chelsea not scored more goals?

89 mins (19:20) Deco and Bosingwa’s fluent passing move results in the former’s ball across the area finding Michael Ballack at the far post, only for the German to miss the net. Lampard and Drogba then come close a few seconds later, as West Brom are desperate for this game to end.  Meanwhile, a slight concern for Chelsea is that Terry appears to be struggling with an injury.