Chelsea 1 West Brom 0 - Report and pictures

Analysis

For 76 minutes, the plan was working to a tee. Albion were grinding out a well-earned point against the league-leaders thanks to the discipline of Matt Phillips and Chris Brunt.

They were frustrating Antonio Conte's team, and creating their own chances on the counter attack.

But then, Diego Costa struck. Pouncing on the slightest of errors by Gareth McAuley, the Spaniard wriggled free from the touchline and curled a stunning finish into the top far corner.

It was a moment worthy of the player of the month, and perhaps of the champions-elect.

This was Chelsea's ninth win in a row and one that sent them back to the summit of the Premier League, but it was one of their hardest-fought three points on that run.

There won't have been many who roughed them up like Albion did in the first half.

The hosts may have had the majority of possession but when they did have the ball Matt Phillips and Chris Brunt were sitting in to turn Albion's back four into an inpenetrable back six.

Timely toe-ins from Claudio Yacob and Jonny Evans were stifling the blue tide, and they rarely got in behind the Baggies defence.

The closest Antonio Conte's team came to scoring in the first half was a wayward N'Golo Kante daisycutter from long range that bounced off Pedro's legs and wrongfooted Ben Foster before dribbling inches wide of the post, although Diego Costa should have done better with an inviting cross he missed altogether.

In actual fact, it was the visitors who had the best opportunities of the first half.

Matt Phillips blazed a half-volley over from the edge of the box, before Chris Brunt wriggled away from two challenges before firing a dangerous long-range effort a foot wide of the post while Thibaut Courtois stood motionless.

Salomon Rondon came closer still when he robbed David Luiz of the ball on the touchline before bursting towards goal, swerving to the side of Cesar Azpilicueta, and grazing the far post with his shot from a narrow angle.

After the break it was more of the same. Chelsea struggled to get in behind Albion, whose biggest worry was whether one of their many yellow-carded players would put a foot wrong and see red.

Jonny Evans calmness personified at the back, so thankfully the Northern Irishman wasn't forced off after picking up a knock, even though Jonas Olsson was primed.

Albion's plan was to hit Chelsea on the break, and they nearly did just that when Rondon plucked a high ball out of the air, ran to the byline and squirted it into the box, but Gary Cahill got an all-important toe in ahead of the onrushing Fletcher.

Conte made two changes in an effort to change the game, bringing on Willian and Cesc Fabregas, but just as Pulis was going to roll his own dice, Chelsea made the breakthrough.

Gareth McAuley turned 37 at the start of the week, and he's been in tremendous form all season, but Diego Costa is the league's top goalscorer for a reason.

Realising just how hard his team had to fight for these three points, Conte immediately went on the defensive, putting Branislav Ivanovic on for Hazard.

And it worked. Albion were unable to get the equaliser needed to extend their unbeaten run to five games, but they will leave Stamford Bridge with their heads held high.

Key moments

18 Chris Brunt wriggles through two challenges before firing a long-range effort a food wide of the post.

26 Salomon Rondon steals the ball off David Luiz, who he's had the best of so far, before grazing the far post with a shot.

29 N'Golo Kante has a long-range shot that bounces off Pedro's legs, wrong-footing Ben Foster before rolling inches wide of the post.

38 Claudio Yacob does well to stop Diego Costa from heading in Pedro's cross from five yards out.

65 Rondon brings a high ball down and it nearly breaks to Fletcher but Gary Cahill is quickest to the ball.

75 GOAL CHELSEA - Diego Costa outmuscles Gareth McAuley on the by-line before bursting inside and rifling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Man of the Match

Diego Costa - Produced the moment of quality Chelsea needed.

Position in the table

8th - with 20 points from 15 games.

Teams

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses (Fabregas 74), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Willian 63), Costa, Hazard (Ivanovic 77). Unused subs: Begovic, Batshuayi, Chalobah, Aina.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Fletcher (c), Yacob; Phillips (McClean 77), Morrison (Chadli 77), Brunt (Robson-Kanu 84); Rondon. Unused subs: Palmer, Olsson, Galloway, Gardner.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)