ENGLISH TRIO RIDE NEW-LOOK BLUES TO RESCUE AS LEAVE IT LATE
FRANK LAMPARD was adamant that Chelsea will improve following this crazy 90 minutes. “We will do better,” he said after watching his side wipe out a three-goal half-time deficit in the dying seconds, “and today was part of the process of getting better.
“We have to accept things weren’t great – but they will be.”
The clock is already ticking on that one.
After all, club benefactor Roman Abramovich has not sanctioned a £250million spend to witness the kind of topsy-turvy evening that took place at The Hawthorns.
It is a fact that since Lampard took charge last season, Chelsea top one of the most unwanted statistics tables in the Premier League. They have conceded 42 goals away from home – an average of two per game – and the former England midfielder will know that no sustainable challenge of any kind can be built on such weak foundations.
Marcos Alonso gave away the first goal after just four minutes.
A lazy header inside some 40 yards from goal was picked up by Matheus Pereira.
The playmaker found Callum Robinson on the left-hand side of the area and his well-placed shot through the legs of Reece James was sufficiently well placed to defeat Willy Caballero.
A poor start didn’t improve. Tammy Abraham sidefooted over and Timo Werner crashed an effort into the crossbar.
The contagion was spreading. Thiago Silva, skipper on his debut, allowed a ball to run under his foot. Robinson could hardly believe his luck, racing through and firing home a second.
Before the half-hour had passed it was three. Darnell Furlong loitered on the edge of the area at a corner and his header was directed more in hope that someone might find a finish. Kyle Bartley was that someone.
It had to change. Lampard called Cesar Azpilicueta from the bench at the interval to replace the hapless Alonso. Mateo Kovacic made way for Callum Hudson-odoi.
Lampard said: “It was clear something had to change. We had created two or three great chances.
But when you’re three down, West Brom are going to drop back. We needed to stay patient. “We needed to add something different.”
Mason Mount cut his foot across the ball to fire into the bottom corner from 25 yards. Werner then played Hudson-odoi on the inside and a swift one-two with Havertz reduced the arrears with almost a quarter of the game to play.
Just as time was running out, Mount slashed another shot across the face of goal and Abraham tapped home.
CLOSING IN: Hudson-odoi narrows the deficit