West Brom vs. Chelsea: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
Saido Berahino scored a brace as West Bromwich Albion ended Chelsea's 16-match unbeaten run in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory on Monday night at the Hawthorns.
The hosts went ahead in the ninth minute via Berahino's well-taken opener and doubled their lead from the penalty spot—again through Berahino—early in the second half. Chris Brunt added the third on the hour mark to give Tony Pulis' side a memorable win over the league champions.
But in truth, the result was largely irrelevant. Chelsea wrapped up the title long ago and West Brom were in no danger of relegation. Speaking to Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport) at full-time, Blues manager Jose Mourinho said:
"It's difficult to keep the motivation high. We have lots of injuries, the intensity is not so high, and when you lose that salt and pepper of competition, it's difficult to compete. I don't think 3-0 reflects the result, but maybe we started the game already losing.
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Chelsea held 60 percent of possession and outshot West Brom 12-9, but the night belonged to Berahino and the Baggies. Here are our choices for winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Saido Berahino
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Saido Berahino scored two goals for West Brom and in the process likely increased his transfer value this summer.
The first goal was outstanding, showcasing the 21-year-old's awareness and sense of space in and around the box. Receiving a pass near the edge of the area with his back to goal, Berahino allowed the ball to run, then turned and fired an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner past Thibaut Courtois.
The second was more pedestrian as Berahino converted a penalty after winning the spot-kick himself in the first minute of the second half.
With two goals, Berahino underlined his quality and potentially increased his monetary value to West Brom. According to James Nursey at the Daily Mirror, Berahino is a summer transfer target for Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. The England Under-21 international has scored 20 times in all competitions this season, and West Brom surely will demand a substantial fee if he does leave the club this summer.
It's up to the club, of course, to decide whether or not to sell. At only 21 years old, Berahino is already a proven goalscorer in the top flight, and his scoring record will no doubt help the Baggies next season.
But selling Berahino for a handsome sum could help the club as well. If West Brom receive a large enough fee, manager Tony Pulis could significantly strengthen his squad.
Either way, Berahino represents a valuable asset for the Baggies.
Loser: Cesc Fabregas
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Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas received a red card in the 29th minute under unusual circumstances. To begin to understand the incident, it's necessary to back up a moment.
A strange sequence began in the 28th minute with a tussle between Chelsea's Diego Costa and West Brom's Gareth McAuley. As referee Mike Jones sorted matters out, Fabregas kicked the ball into a crowd that included both Jones and a group of West Brom players. The ball struck Chris Brunt's head and Jones quickly walked over to Fabregas and dismissed the Spaniard.
Chelsea supporters might argue that the red card was soft because it wasn't really violent conduct. They might have a point, but regardless, Fabregas acted foolishly. Kicking the ball in that direction, in that moment, was ill-advised at best.
The BBC's Alistair Magowan tweeted that Fabregas had acted "like a little kid," and B/R's Tom Sunderland questioned the Spain international's judgment:
"Chelsea were trailing the Baggies 1-0 at the time of Fabregas' dismissal, and the playmaker will now miss the Premier League champions' season closer against Sunderland on Sunday. …
Whether the kick was intended to hit an opponent, only Fabregas will know, but the question remains as to why he would risk such judgement by kicking the ball anywhere near the huddle of players.
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Chelsea have already wrapped up the title, so Fabregas' absence will not damage his club as much as it would early in the season. But on a personal level, the midfielder might be disappointed. With 18 assists this season, Fabregas was only two short of Thierry Henry's Premier League record of 20. Now with the suspension, he won't have a chance to surpass his former team-mate's mark.
Winner: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
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Chelsea suffered a lopsided defeat, but the match was far from a total loss. In midfield, 19-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek sparkled, starting alongside Nemanja Matic in a deep role and performing admirably throughout his 73 minutes on the pitch.
Loftus-Cheek impressed in his first Premier League start—last week against Liverpool—and Monday's performance was no different. Before leaving the match in favour of fellow youngster Nathan Ake, Loftus-Cheek completed 92 percent of his passes and made nine ball recoveries, per FourFourTwo StatsZone.
He rarely put a foot wrong, showed excellent positioning and provided a powerful presence in the middle.
As Chelsea try to defend their title next season, expect Loftus-Cheek to play an increasingly vital role.
Loser: Filipe Luis
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Filipe Luis did not play poorly at left-back for Chelsea. His 6.9 match rating from WhoScored.com was perfectly respectable.
But Monday's match represented a chance for the Brazilian to make a case for inclusion ahead of Cesar Azpilicueta, and his performance won't have persuaded manager Jose Mourinho to make any kind of long-term change.
Luis had trouble tracking a few runs in the first half, notably when Callum McManaman blew past him in the fifth minute and flashed a shot across the face of goal. In the second half, he was too slow to react to a short corner by West Brom, allowing Chris Brunt to pass by too easily on the way to scoring the Baggies' third goal.
Winner: Tony Pulis
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Appointed on New Year's Day to keep West Brom in the Premier League, Tony Pulis comfortably surpassed expectations, securing safety for the Baggies with plenty of time to spare.
Pulis is the proud holder of a record that does not include a single relegation, and now he has a memorable, three-goal victory over Jose Mourinho as well. His sides always have superb discipline, and they're always hard to beat.
"Our last five games looked so difficult and we were so on edge after defeats to QPR and Leicester but the lads have dug in and been wonderful," Pulis told Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport).
Next season will be no different. Under his stewardship, West Brom could have a chance to push higher up the table.
Follow @MiguelCominguez
