Club News

Albion 0 Chelsea 1

Blues crowned Premier League Champions

  • Batshuayi converts winner from close range (82)
  • Chelsea crowned Premier League champions
  • Albion, eighth, on 45 points with two matches remaining
  • Attendance: 25,367
  • Albion Star Man: Jonny Evans

ALBION were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in their final Hawthorns game of 2016/17, meaning Antonio Conte's side were crowned Premier League Champions.

The Baggies battled bravely in an end-to-end encounter, but Michy Batshuayi's close range strike in the 82nd minute gave the Blues the three points they needed to secure the title.

Ahead of kick-off, Ben Foster picked up both the Supporters' and Players' Player of the Season awards - the third occasion he has done the double - while Chris Brunt's drilled effort at home to Sunderland in January earned him Goal of the Season.

Albion showed one change from the 2-2 draw against Burnley, Allan Nyom coming in for Marc Wilson, and that meant a start for 19-year-old Sam Field in midfield.

With just a minute on the clock, Salomon Rondon forced a fingertip save from Thibaut Courtois which set the tone for a pulsating opening first half. 

Victor Moses forced a smart save from Ben Foster but Albion largely restricted a Blues side who had won their last three league matches scoring 10 goals in the process. 

Chelsea passed and probed as they largely dominated play against a solid Baggies side, Pedro seeing his shot deflected narrowly wide by Jonny Evans.

Albion enjoyed a spell of greater possession as the first half wore on and threatened the visitors on the counter on more than one occasion.

Yet neither side fashioned a clear-cut opening before the break, Cesc Fabregas and the lively Pedro firing just wide as the Blues registered one shot on target from 14 attempts compared to Albion's two from four.

That statistic changed within two minutes of the restart as Foster got down well to tip behind from Victor Moses.

Claudio Yacob, introduced for Sam Field, cleared Craig Dawson's interception from danger near the goal-line as Chelsea applied pressure but Albion remained strong and kept the league leaders at bay.

Indeed, it was Albion who went on to threaten - first Rondon breaking clear before seeing his effort deflected wide for a corner before, second, substitute Nacer Chadli pulled a good opening wide.

But after replacing Pedro in the 75th minute, Batshuayi cemented his place in the Chelsea history books, turning home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross late on.

The Baggies pressed but were unable to find an equaliser.

Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley (M Wilson 64), Evans, Nyom; Brunt, Livermore, Fletcher (c), Field (Yacob 51), McClean (Chadli 59); Rondon.

Subs: Myhill, Morrison, Leko, Robson-Kanu.

BOOKED: McClean (foul, 20), Field (foul, 36), M Wilson (foul, 71)

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses, Matic, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro (Batshuayi 75), Diego Costa, Hazard (Willian 75).

Subs: Begovic, Terry, Ake, Kante.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)