Chelsea v West Brom

Chelsea lost 2-0 to Champions Man City at the Etihad and also slipped down to 4th in the table . It was not a good result for manager Rafael Benitez who said .."When you lose, you have to be disappointed and this game was important for us because we could have been closer to Man City, but we cannot give up."



West Brom kept on course for their best ever finish in the Premier League as they beat Sunderland 2-1 at The Hawthorns , 2 goals from Romelu Lukaku also kept up their hopes of a place in the Europa League next season ..the win moved West Brom up to 7th in the table .

What is the problem of the Chelsea fans? 9 months ago Abramovich gave them a Champions League - now he's appointed an unpopular manager, but a manager whom we've long known will be gone in the summer. And yet they all seem obsessed with the fact that for half a season they are going to have a manager whom they don't like!!! I know what the problem is - the happiness effect of you know what has warn out, and they are bitterly disappointed that they are no happier than most clubs - indeed far less happy than Swansea fans - they thought they were going to be happy til the end of time.

I repeat - they are CL winners, yet they are obsessing about this tiny period in which they have to have a manager they don't like.

I have started a topic about Rafa's rant towards Chelsea's fans in our general football section.

I think the Blues are lucky that Lukaku who is on loan at WBA won't be allowed to play against them!

The Stamford Bridge side still need to win this game if they want to finish in the top 4 and play in CL next season.

Chelsea 3-0 WBA

I wouldn't be crying in my beer if Chesea imploded towards the end of the season, and the 'Rafa reign' ends in tears with Chelsea in 5th place. However, I don't think that will happen, and I think the Spaniard will keep the Blues on track despite the booing. Chelsea 2 WBA 1.

Line ups

CHELSEA:
Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Ba -

Subs - Turnbull, Terry, Cahill, Bertrand, Mikel, Moses, Torres

WEST BROM:
Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Yacob, Mulumbu, Fortune, Morrison, Dorrans, Long -

Subs - Myhill , Jones, Tamas, Brown, Odemwingie, Thomas, Rosenberg

HT

Chelsea 1-0 WBA
1-0 Ba 28'

FT

Chelsea 1-0 WBA
1-0 Ba 28'

Surprisingly Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez didn't really get that much abuse following his mid week rant.

Any comments on todays result?

Yse - it was what we expected - next.

WBA keeper Ben Foster was in great form and I welcome his decision to come out of international retirement.

Chelsea just couldn't find that 2nd goal to wrap up the 3 points but they did play very well for about 75 minutes of the match.

I don't.