Barclays Premier League

CHELSEA STUMBLE OVER THE LINE TO TAKE THE POINTS

It's completely deserved if you consider the lengths to which Chelsea dominated this game; in fact, it wasn't until very late on that Petr Cech was called into action. He certainly performed when needed, though, denying Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie magnificently. In the end, it was Demba Ba's first half goal that proved the difference, but it could have been much more if Oscar had taken his three great chances.

SO CLOSE!

Ooh, that would have made headlines! Ben Foster tries an acrobatic overhead kick, but gets it all wrong. That's it, the final whistle sounds and Chelsea take the points.

SAVE FROM CECH

That could be all she wrote, folks. It's probably the best move of the game, culminating in a Peter Odemwingie shot. It's well-saved by Cech. Chelsea run down the clock with a substitution: John Obi Mikel for Juan Mata. It's a last-minute corner for Albion, Foster is up...

WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

Jerome Thomas busts a gut to get the ball in the area, and it's a good delivery too. Nobody's there though, which is unbelievable considering they have just over a minute to find a goal. Markus Rosenberg receives an earful from his teammates for not getting into the box!

NOT LONG LEFT

It's not looking good for West Brom, as the clock is wearing the colours of Chelsea. The Baggies' attack are a little less frequent now, and Chelsea are threatening once again. Frank Lampard blasts over after a well-worked move from the hosts.

NERVY PLAY

Chelsea aren't looking quite as comfortable as they did 10 minutes ago, as the Baggies start to throw everything at them to try and find an equaliser. The Blues are cramped in their own area, hanging on to their one-goal lead. Final change for Chelsea: Fernando Torres on, Ba off.

BAGGIES GO CLOSE

It's a couple of unbelievable saves from Petr Cech, who first palms a curling Peter Odemwingie free kick over. The next is even better, as he denies Shane Long at point blank range, following a James Morrison corner. Odemwingie has received a yellow card.

ANOTHER SUPER SAVE

Ben Foster has been saying that he wants to push for a place in the England squad, and now he's walking the walk. He denies Oscar again, this time a low drive. It's particularly impressive as the defenders were partially blocking Foster's sight. Markus Rosenberg on for Claudio Yacob.

SUPER SAVE

West Bromwich Albion are given a reprieve once more, with Oscar spurning a third wonderful chance. This time he volleys towards goal after receiving the nod-down from Ba. Ben Foster makes a cracking save to deny the Brazilian. Victor Moses has come on for Hazard.

GOOD SPELL

West Bromwich Albion have a free kick and corner in quick succession, neither of which proves fruitful. It's better than nothing, though.

WALL DOES ITS JOB

Demba Ba earns - although through illegal means; simulation specifically - a free kick in a central position 25 yards from goal. David Luiz steps up and fires a stinger right at the poor soul in the wall.

ANOTHER POOR SET PIECE

Things are looking up for the visitors, as they win a second corner. This time a red shirt is on the end of it, but Jonas Olsson can't direct it goalwards.

DISAPPOINTING

The travelling fans get all fired up as their team wins a rare corner. It's pretty awful, though, and normal service is resumed, with Chelsea assuming control once more. Steve Clarke brings on Jerome Thomas for Graham Dorrans.

GOOD WORK RATE

Shane Long displays his superb work ethic, racing back the length of the pitch to quell some imminent danger. It's all very good, but they still don't look at all dangerous in attack.

MCAULEY CAUTIONED

Eden Hazard outmaneuvers Gareth McAuley, and wins a free kick right on the edge of the area - I mean, that's literally milimetres away from a penalty. McAuley gets a caution for his trouble, but makes up by heading away the resulting free kick.

SUBSTITUTION

Here he is, the man on everyone's lips. Peter Odemwingie comes on and, a little surprisingly, Marc-Antoine Fortune makes way. The departed has worked his socks off all afternoon, so that's a little strange.

NO PENALTY!

Eden Hazard bursts into the area, and Jonas Olsson comes across to bully him off the ball. It's a strong challenge, but Kevin Friend makes the right decision in adjudging it to be a fair tackle.

COMPLETE CONTROL

The game is almost exclusively being played in West Brom's final third now. However, you have to feel that Chelsea could be made to pay if they can't find a second here.

YELLOW CARD

Not for the first time, Hazard catches Liam Ridgewell late. This time he is punished with the first yellow card of the afternoon.

MCAULEY CLEARANCE

Frank Lampard is causing a lot of problems now, as he gets the better of Youssouf Mulumbu. He picks out Hazard, who is marauding the right flank, and the Belgian's delivery earns a corner. Demba Ba gets on the end of the Hazard corner, but doesn't trouble the keeper.

BALL IN THE NET AGAIN

Chelsea try to take a quick free kick and end up putting the ball in the net again. Kevin Friend was talking to Olsson, though, so the goal won't count. The real free kick, taken by Lampard, goes straight into the wall.

OFFSIDE!

Chelsea bamboozle the visitor's back line with a series of intricate passes. The flag goes up against Mata, before Lampard turns the ball in. Of course it won't count, though.

WEAK SHOT FROM BA

Demba Ba's shot once again lacks venom, and Ben Foster makes an easy save.

MORE OF THE SAME

It's carried on in the same way as the first ended here, with Chelsea piling on the pressure. Frank Lampard has already had a shot saved, and the Albion defence have had to deal with a couple of Oscar crosses. It's still early days, though.

KICK OFF

Here we go again. Both sides are unchanged at the break.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

Other than the opening few minutes, it's been a completely one-side affair at Stamford Bridge, in which the Baggies are rather lucky to only be one behind. Oscar has spurned a couple of golden opportunities, while the closest the visitors came was Steven Reid's blasted free kick. The difference at the break is Demba Ba's tap-in, following a David Luiz thunderbolt free kick, an Oscar cross and a Luiz head-down. We've seen Chelsea throw away this kind of lead before, though, so West Bromwich Albion have to believe they still have a chance here.

HALF TIME

Kevin Friend sounds the half time whistle, as the home side go in one goal to the good.

ANOTHER BLOCK

Eden Hazard's shot is blocked once more by the stubborn West Brom defence. It looks like they might go in only one goal down, and give themselves a real chance in the second period.

RARE GLIMPSE OF GOAL

West Bromwich Albion get a rare sight of goal, but a rush of blood to the head results in James Morrison miscuing his shot horrifically. His angry reaction says it all.

LAST-GASP DEFENDING

The Brummies are really hanging on for the whistle now, while the Blues look determined to find another before the break. It's all one-way traffic now, as shots from Ashley Cole and Oscar are blocked emphatically by Ridgewell and Olsson respectively.

MATA ARRIVING

Liam Ridgewell makes a vital interception from an Oscar cross, with Juan Mata looming. The resulting corner is well-worked, with Mata lofting it in for Oscar right at the back of the area. With no defenders in sight, Oscar can't find the target, though. Still, good signs for Chelsea, who are beginning to pick holes in the opposition's defence all too often now.

BA SHOT

Chelsea find their way through the West Brom defence again - it's looking easier for them every time! The result isn't quite as exciting this time though, with Demba Ba releasing a tame grass-trimmer straight at Ben Foster.

ALMOST TWO!

Chelsea are looking good now! Their lead is almost instantly doubled, with an incisive attack. Claudio Yacob is made to look a fool, being nutmegged twice in quick succession. The ball eventually finds its way to Juan Mata, whose volleyed effort goes marginally wide.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

Ben Foster made an incredible save moments earlier, diverting a deflected David Luiz thunderbolt away from goal. But this time, Oscar crosses, Luiz heads down and DEMBA BA guides the ball over the line from close range. 1-0 Chelsea.

GOOOAAALLL

Demba Ba scores for Chelsea!!

NOT SO GOOD DEFENDING

Gareth McAuley fails to clear the ball, and suddenly the situation looks dangerous. Demba Ba races towards the loose ball, but an alert Ben Foster beats him to it, hoofing it into the stands. Let off for Albion.

GOOD DEFENDING

Chelsea have assumed the dominant position now, as Frank Lampard and Juan Mata start to pull the strings in the centre of the park. They can't seem to find a way through the organised and determined defence of West Bromwich Albion, though.

STRANGE ATMOSPHERE

It's unusually quiet inside Stamford Bridge, with the chants at more of a murmur, rather than a passionate rendition of 'Super Chelsea'. In fact, the song of the day seems to be 'there's only one Di Matteo'.

ANOTHER GREAT CHANCE FOR OSCAR

Oscar has been finding little pockets of space in the last few minutes, and this time Albion are almost punished. Mata's pinpoint cross affords the Brazilian a free header, but once again he doesn't make the most of the chance, giving Ben Foster an easy save.

NO FINAL PASS

West Bromwich Albion enjoy some good passing football in and around the Chelsea penalty area, but a lack of movement and vision mean that they can't find the final ball. The attack eventually breaks down and Chelsea attempt to break, but West Brom manage to get back quickly and defend.

EVEN AFFAIR SO FAR

We haven't seen the early domination we've come to expect from Chelsea, with the Baggies giving as good as they're getting at the moment. Both sides have gone close, and there's not much between the two sides in terms of possession or attacking intent, either.

GREAT SAVE

Ooh, what a strike from Steven Reid! It's a cracking free kick, which Ramires conceded. The dipping ball is just tipped over by Petr Cech, though, and goes behind for a fruitless corner.

EARLY CHANCE

The home side force the first opportunity of the afternoon, with Demba Ba turning the architect. He picks out Oscar with a low cross, and the Brazillian makes contact, but sends the ball straight towards Ben Foster, who makes the save. That was a super chance and he really should have scored. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

HOSTILE RECEPTION

The questions over the fans' reactions to Rafa's midweek comments are answered early on. The Spanish boss comes out of his technical area and is greeted by an echo of boos inside Stamford Bridge.

KICK OFF

And we're off. West Brom are playing in an unfamiliar red kit, while the hosts are wearing their usual blue strip.

WEST BROM LINE-UP

Shane Long has been out with injury lately but returns to the starting XI this week. This could be a little stubborn from the Baggies, with rebel Peter Odemwingie only on the bench. Marc-Antoine Fortune is sure to be a threat for the visitors, too.

CHELSEA LINE-UP

It's as strong a side as you could expect Chelsea to field, with Demba Ba spearheading the attack. John Terry continues to start on the bench, with Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz in the heart of defence. Gary Cahill is recovering from injury and starts among the subs. Other big names include Fernando Torres; he's available should Rafa feel the need for a little extra firepower.

LIVE COMMENTARY

Kick off is at 15.00 BST. Join us around half an hour before for confirmed team news, followed by live text coverage.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Baggies have been victorious in the last two meetings, but have never taken the points at the Bridge in the Premier League, with the Blues on six home wins out of six. The last time Chelsea's fortress was breached by the Brummies was in 1978, a 3-1 Division One success.

BACK WITH HIS TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS

West Brom haven't been drama-less either this term; Peter Odemwingie was left red-faced after he declared he was leaving the Baggies, before seeing the Loftus Road door shut in his face and having to return to face Steve Clark and co. It may seem rather unforgivable, disowning the club, but they may have to turn to their Nigerian striker this afternoon, with Shane Long injured and Lukaku ineligible to face Chelsea, his parent club.

MATCH PREVIEW

West Brom travel to the lions' den this afternoon, taking on a Chelsea side in disrepute. The midweek antics involving Rafa Benitez are likely to overshadow this afternoon's encounter, with the fans' response at the forefront of people's minds. Since a shock early exit in the Champions League this season, the Blues' Premier League campaign has turned sour also, but with the latest instalment of Stamford Bridge drama, the question is whether they continue to self-destruct or pick themselves up in the hunt for a Champions League spot.