West Bromwich Albion vs Chelsea

24th September

Slaven Bilić’s Baggies will get back to Premier League action when they take on Chelsea at The Hawthorns on Saturday (ko 5.30pm).

Chelsea

Their latest campaign

Under Frank Lampard’s guidance, the Blues secured a top-four finish last term. The London side reached the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League but a damning 4-1 defeat against victors Bayern Munich ended any hope of European glory. However, reaffirming fourth place in the top-flight last term means they will have another opportunity to mount a challenge for silverware in Europe. Lampard came close to lifting his first trophy as a manager in the FA Cup final, but Chelsea suffered a Wembley defeat to Arsenal.

In the dugout

Chelsea legend Lampard was welcomed with open arms when he returned to Stamford Bridge last season for the first time as their head coach. Entering football management in 2018, the 42-year-old enjoyed an impressive first year with Championship side Derby County - leading them to the Play-Off final and although he fell short of helping the Rams reach the top-flight, he did step up to the top-tier, replacing the outgoing Maurizio Sarri as Chelsea boss in 2019.

One to watch

The Blues have significantly bolstered their squad this summer, with Timo Werner a key arrival for Lampard’s men.

The German international moved to London for a reported £45m fee from RB Leipzig and his goal-scoring record emphasises Chelsea’s ambition. Werner retained his record as Leipzig’s top-scorer over the last four seasons, with last year proving his most prolific in the League with 34 goals.

Although he is yet to score for his new club, Werner has scored recently, netting for Germany against Spain in a Nations League game at the beginning of September.

Our last meeting

The last meeting between the two sides was a 3-0 Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge.

Albion’s most recent victory against the London club was on the final day of the 2014/15 campaign in which their opponents were crowned Premier League champions. The Baggies beat the Blues 3-0, as Saido Berahino hit a double, with Chris Brunt also scoring.

Stats

Albion

Hal Robson-Kanu has scored three goals in his last two games - both in the Carabao Cup.
Albion's goalscorers against Everton, Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana, will both reach double-figures for the Baggies the next time they score. Both exciting players scored eight goals last season, taking their current totals in blue and white stripes to nine with their Goodison Park strikes.
Callum Robinson’s first Premier League goal came against Chelsea just over a year ago. He scored Sheffield United’s first as they came from two goals behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea

The Blues have scored three and conceded three in the Premier League this season. They won their first league game against Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1, before slipping to a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
In the two Premier League games and one Carabao Cup match Chelsea have played, they have had seven different goalscorers. They beat Barnsley 6-0 in the cup on Wednesday.
Lampard’s men won just one of their last five away games in all competitions last season. They did however win at Brighton on the Premier League opening day this term.

Head to head

	Albion wins	Draws	Chelsea wins
League	38	30	56
FA Cup	4	4	3
League Cup	1	1	1
Total	43	35	60

Our one to watch

Hal Robson-Kanu will be vying for a first-team spot against Chelsea on Saturday.

The Albion forward has netted three times this season in the Carabao Cup, scoring once against Harrogate and two penalties in midweek against Brentford, but is yet to start a Premier League game for the Baggies this season.

Read all about it

Matheus Pereira on the cover. An Ivanović double-page special, Slav's verdict, Livermore on our new signings and an interview with a loan star all on the inside. Get your copy of Saturday’s Albion News here, or find out more about it here.

Follow the game

Gez Mulholland will be joined by once midfield-now-microphone maestro Andy Johnson to provide proudly partisan commentary and an expert insight for WBA Radio.

To listen live to Baggies-biased commentary on WBA Radio for free for every home and away match during the 2020/21 season all you have to do is sign up for a free My Albion account.

If you haven't already you can create your My Albion account here. Click Create Account or register quickly with your Facebook or Google account.

Live commentary starts from 15 minutes before kick-off and will be accessible through the live match centre or WBA TV.

If you have any issues registering or accessing your My Albion account please contact myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

26th September

Albion drew 3-3 with star-studded Chelsea in an old-fashioned game of two halves on a brisk September evening at The Hawthorns.

Callum Robinson’s brilliant brace, combined with a Kyle Bartley volley, sent the Baggies into the break with a resounding advantage after a clinical first-half showing.

Strikes from Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi after half-time then pulled the Blues back into the contest before Tammy Abraham struck late to ensure a share of the spoils.

Bilić made one change to the team that played against Everton last weekend with Conor Townsend replacing the suspended Kieran Gibbs.

And - just like they did at Goodison - it was Albion who opened the scoring, this time inside four minutes.

Matheus Pereira was alert to intercept a loose Chelsea pass and give the ball to Robinson on the left, and the front man unleashed a powerful low shot across Willy Caballero and into the bottom corner to claim his first Premier League goal in blue and white.

The visitors went close to responding on the 12-minute mark when Abraham flashed over at the back post, and even closer shortly after when Timo Werner volleyed onto the crossbar.

Yet it was the Baggies who netted next - Robinson finding himself clean through and confidently slotting home to double his side’s lead.

Minutes later, incredibly, Albion extended their advantage even further. Darnell Furlong leapt above the Chelsea defence to flick Pereira’s whipped corner on, and Bartley made no mistake from close-range to spark stunned celebrations at The Hawthorns.

Frank Lampard’s team had plenty of the ball but rarely threatened Sam Johnstone before the interval, with the hosts soaking up the pressure and even creating a few more opportunities - Grady Diangana curling over and seeing a shot well blocked.

The Blues hauled themselves back into the contest 10 minutes after half-time as Mason Mount finished well from outside the area.

Johnstone then had to be at his best to deny Kai Havertz’s deflected attempt, but there was nothing he could do when Hudson-Odoi found space to slot Chelsea within one and set up a nervy final quarter.

Romaine Sawyers flashed an effort wide in a rare Albion attack with 15 minutes to go as Chelsea dominated possession in their search for an equaliser.

And the leveller came came just as the match edged into stoppage time, Abraham tucking the ball away from close-range after pinball in the box.

Albion: Johnstone, Ajayi, Bartley, O’Shea; Furlong, Livermore, Sawyers, Townsend; Pereira (Field 90), Robinson (Robson-Kanu 66), Diangana (Phillips 74).

Substitutes: Button, Kipré, Harper, Edwards.

Saturday 26th September 2020 - 17:30