By Pete Hall
Pedro enjoyed a dream debut as Chelsea earned a 3-2 win at West Brom, but the victory was tarnished by John Terry’s dismissal.
Pedro gave the visitors the lead in the 20th minute of Sunday’s Premier League clash at The Hawthorns after James Morrison had seen a penalty saved down the other end, before the Spaniard provided the assist for Diego Costa to double the champions’ lead on the half-hour mark.
Morrison somewhat made amends for his earlier miss to put the Baggies back in it five minutes later, but Cesar Azpilicueta restored the Blues’ two-goal lead three minutes before the break.
Chelsea looked to be in command until Terry was given his marching orders for bringing down Salomon Rondon on the edge of the box on 54 minutes, before Morrison scored again five minutes later to really worry Jose Mourinho on the Blues bench.
However, Chelsea managed to hold on to record their first win of the season, but this encounter provided further evidence that retaining their title, even with Pedro firing on all cylinders, will be anything but easy.
Pedro started for the Blues just days after joining from Barcelona, with Saido Berahino left out of the matchday squad for West Brom amid speculation he could be about to sign for Tottenham.
Costa, who looked back to his menacing self, could have opened the scoring after just six minutes, but he dragged wide from a good position.
Just five minutes later however, Morrison had a fantastic opportunity to break the deadlock from the penalty spot, after Nemanja Matic had brought down Callum McManaman in the box.
Not normally the penalty taker, Morrison took the ball from Chris Brunt and hit it hard down the middle of the goal, but saw his attempt saved by the legs of Thibaut Courtois, back in the Chelsea side after suspension.
The Baggies were made to pay after 20 minutes, with new-boy Pedro making an immediate impact on his debut.
The Spain forward carried the ball towards the edge of the box, cut inside, before firing past Boaz Myhill, via a slight deflection, to give the visitors the lead.
Pedro then turned provider for Costa 10 minutes later, firing across goal for the striker to divert home to put the Blues in command.
Tony Pulis’ side eventually got a reward for their endeavours on 35 minutes, with Morrison drilling the ball home after debutant Rondon had brilliantly kept a deep cross alive.
However, Chelsea quickly restored their two-goal lead, with Azpilicueta latching onto a loose ball after Costa had chested a lofted centre down, to score his first goal for the club.
After the interval, Chelsea seemed comfortable until Terry was adjudged to be the last man and was given his marching orders.
The Blues skipper was struggling to keep pace with the energetic Rondon, and tugged the Baggies’ record signing back before he could reach the box, and was handed a straight red.
The hosts grew in confidence as a result, and closed the gap just before the hour mark, with Morrison again getting on the scoresheet, this time with his head, converting a pinpoint McManaman cross.
Costa almost made the result safe following more brilliant work from Pedro, but he fired just wide with Myhill beaten.
McManaman curled just past the post before a frantic final 15 minutes saw both sides have chances to score, but the Blues held on for a vital three points, and showed some much-needed resilience to silence some of the doubters.
Player ratings
West Brom: Myhill (6), Dawson (6), McAuley (5), Olsson (5), Brunt (6), Morrison (8), Fletcher (7), Yacob (6), McClean (7), McManaman (8), Rondon (7).
Subs: Gnabry (7), Gardner (6), Lambert (5)
Chelsea: Courtois (7), Ivanovic (5), Zouma (6), Terry (5), Azpilicueta (7), Matic (6), Fabregas (7) Pedro (9), Willian (5), Hazard (7), Diego Costa (8).
Subs: Cahill (6), Falcao (5), Mikel (5).
Man of the Match: Pedro (Chelsea)
Source:Skysports
