West Brom 0 Chelsea 1 - Match report and pictures

But this was Albion's last home game of the season, they weren't just going to roll over meekly.

The Baggies lasted 76 minutes at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, before Diego Costa capitalised on a Gareth McAuley mistake.

They lasted even longer this time, and it was a far more even contest, but Chelsea and Antonio Conte were not to be denied.

Michy Batshuayi scored the goal eight minutes from time shortly after coming off the bench, but it came about in fortuitous circumstances.

Gary Cahill's miscued shot fell kindly to Cesar Azpilicueta, who rolled the ball across the six yard box for the striker to tuck home.

It was harsh on an Albion side who nearly signed off a successful home campaign in style.

A solid defensive performance complimented by some threatening counter-attacking football looked to have delayed Chelsea's party for a little while longer.

Pulis made one change, swapping Allan Nyom in for Marc Wilson at left-back, but he kept faith with 19-year-old academy graduate and Stourbridge Baggies fan, Sam Field.

Field was up against Cesc Fabregas, who kept his place in the team while PFA Player of the Year N'Golo Kante made the bench, and Nemanja Matic, another languid left-footer who may be a glimpse of the teenager's future.

Despite the obvious advantage the visitors held, it was the home side who flew out of the traps and they had tested Thibaut Courtois within 45 seconds, when Salomon Rondon, buoyed by his goal against Burnley, flicked on Darren Fletcher's clip into the box and forced the Chelsea keeper to tip the ball over the bar.

Chelsea gave the Baggies a warning five minutes in, when Fabregas clipped perfectly-weighted ball onto Pedro's run, but the Spaniard couldn't get it under control.

Marcos Alonso wanted a penalty soon after when Pedro's cross hit Chris Brunt's arm but the Northern Irishman was close to the ball and Michael Oliver correctly waved away the appeal.

Chelsea had 14 shots in the first half, but just one on target, and the Baggies may have been second-best in possession, but on chances they were matching the league-leaders.

Antonio Conte's team were probing, but thanks to their 3-4-3 system, they left themselves horribly exposed to the counter-attack.

Albion wasted an excellent two-on-one when James McClean passed the ball behind Rondon after Field timed a step out on the edge of his own box perfectly to steal possession.

A few minutes later McClean found the right pass in a similar breakaway, but this time Nyom dawdled on the ball and Chelsea recovered.

The visitors had all the ball but Albion were not letting their home campaign go meekly into the night; they blocked in defence, harried in midfield, and pressed up front.

Jonny Evans was composure personified at the back, although there was a nervy moment when Hazard threw himself down under the Northern Irishman's challenge in the box, but once again Oliver said no.

Rondon was holding the ball up better than usual, and two minutes before half-time he sent McClean, who always seemed in the thick of the action, away down the left.

The winger's centre towards Brunt was well cut-out by David Luiz but it could have used a little bit more zip.

Before the game, legendary left-back Derek Statham presented Ben Foster with two player of the seasonn awards and he proved why straight after half-time, fingertipping Victor Moses' deflected squirt around the far post.

Field got a deserved standing ovation when he was replaced by Yacob shortly afterwards, but the Argentinian's first contribution was to stop Craig Dawson putting the ball into his own net from an Eden Hazard cross.

Five minutes later Yacob stepped in and tackled Costa on the penalty spot just as the striker was about to pull the trigger, as Pulis brought Nacer Chadli on for McClean and was forced to take Gareth McAuley off for Marc Wilson because of a knock.

Albion were still threatening on the counter, and Rondon had the whole home end out of their seats 20 minutes from time when he escaped Luiz on the half-way line, but the Venezuelan didn't have the pace to outstrip Cesar Azpilicueta who recovered in time to put him off.

Chelsea were leaving gaps everywhere. Two minutes later and Jake Livermore found Chadli in the box, but the Belgian wasted his chance with a tame shot wide.

Albion were actually looking the more likely before the visitors got the goal they came for. It encouraged a few Chelsea fans hidden in the Birmingham Road End to run onto the pitch and the rest of the game was played out in odd circumstances, with more tension off the pitch than on it.

But then Oliver blew for full-time and the away end erupted. And while the celebrations went on in front of the Smethwick, the Albion fans clapped their players off the pitch.

The Lord's My Shepherd drowned out 'Championes' for a few bars before the Baggies fans dispersed and the Chelsea supporters continued celebrating into the night.

TEAMS

Albion (4-1-4-1): Foster; Dawson, McAuley (M Wilson 64), Evans, Nyom; Fletcher (c); Brunt, Livermore, Field (Yacob 51), McClean (Chadli 59); Rondon. Unused subs: Myhill, Morrison, Leko, Robson-Kanu.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses (Zouma 85), Matic, Fabregas, Alonso; Pedro (Batshuayi 75), Diego Costa, Hazard (Willian 75). Unused subs: Begovic, Terry, Ake, Kante.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Attendance: 25,367 (2,773 away)