Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WILD BLUE WONDERS
King Conte goes Batty as battling Chelsea warriors seal title in style
CHELSEA were made to work last night, but finally kick-started their title party. And their most unlikely of heroes was Michy Batshuayi. He has barely featured this season but scored the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute just as the Blues thought they might have to put the champagne on ice for a couple of days. But it was what they deserved after a magnificent campaign, Antonio Conte leading his troops to the title in his first season in charge. They have been the best team by far, so maybe you can excuse the newly-crowned champions a night of nerves right at the finishing line. They got it done in the end, Conte leading the celebrations in typical fashion on the touchline. The away end was in celebratory mood even before kick-off. The Hawthorns was rocking, there was tension and excitement in the air and it was almost as if West Brom had decided to lay on a title-winning party for Chelsea. Albion have been on their holidays for weeks – failing to win any of their previous six games before last night – and, short of handing out the party hats, it looked as if they were ready to make it a night to remember for the Blues. They stood off and watched as Cesc Fabregas ran midfield, looking for openings as he tried to unlock a defence which at least put up some resistance. There was a sense that if Chelsea got one then more would follow. But, for all their pressure and possession, they could not find a way through. It was a bit too tippy-tappy, lots of nice passes but very little cutting edge. Eden Hazard tried to make things happen, Diego Costa looked in the mood and Pedro made darting runs from midfield. But it was Fabregas who gave the Baggies their first real scare after 32 minutes, his 20-yard shot whistling just past a post with keeper Ben Foster scrambling. Perhaps nerves had finally caught up with Chelsea with silverware in sight, but it was a pretty unsatisfactory first half for them. Conte looked edgy, barking out orders and getting more animated as his men failed to make their superiority pay. Pedro sent another effort off target
and West Brom began to have their own moments on the break, but David Luiz was a match for Salomon Rondon, intercepting and spotting every moment of danger. Whatever Conte said at half time worked. Chelsea came out fired up for the second half, with a new energy as they went all out to break the deadlock. They began to pepper the West Brom goal, keeping Foster on his toes and putting Tony Pulis’s men under real pressure. Victor Moses drove forward, firing a 48th-minute shot towards the far corner and Foster somehow managed to claw the ball away. A brilliant save at full stretch. Pedro’s cross found Costa and his shot on the turn was well saved by Foster again. Hazard also went close before Foster denied Moses once more. But amid Chelsea’s anxiety to make the breakthrough, West Brom also looked increasingly dangerous on the break. Claudio Jacob found Rondon, the West Brom No.9 rolled Luiz and then bombed forward and only Cesar Azpilicueta stopped him getting a shot on target. The home side had an even better chance after 72 minutes when Rondon found Jake Livermore, his pass set up Nacer Chadli but he wasted a great chance by rolling a shot wide. Suddenly Chelsea were beginning to feel a little nervous, so Conte sent on Willian and Batshuayi with 15 minutes left to try and win it. His boldness was rewarded when £33m flop Batshuayi slid in at the near post to turn home Azpilicueta’s cross. Cue wild celebrations. It was only Batshuayi’s second league goal and he has written history with it.