West Brom 1-3 Chelsea: Drogba Inspired!.

After a disappointing result in midweek against United, Chelsea needed a good performance and a win against West Brom on Saturday. As I said in my match preview beforehand, our hosts had been on an impressive run and were unbeaten since February so it was going to be no easy game. However, Chelsea put in a good performance inspired by Didier Drogba who had a hand in each of our goals.

Chelsea switched to our tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation with Malouda, Drogba and Kalou up front, Mikel, Essien and Lampard in midfield and Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry and Cole at the back.

Chelsea looked to have a better balance and dominated possession but due to some sloppy defending once more went a goal behind. Peter Odemwinge continued his impressive record and through on goal he flicked the ball over Petr Cech to make it 1-0.

Chelsea responded and continued to pass and probe. Our left hand side posed the biggest threat and West Brom struggled to cope in the first half. A ball down our left found Florent Malouda and his cross was half cleared into the path of Didier Drogba who blasted the ball home from 12 yards to make it 1-1.

West Brom were on the back foot as Chelsea continued to dominate possession. We scored our second goal as Didier Drogba picked up the ball outside the box, stepped passed a couple of challenges and fired a shot towards goal. Scott Carson parried the ball to his right and Salomon Kalou followed up and slotted the ball, left foot into the far corner to make it 2-1 Chelsea.

Frank Lampard surprisingly on a free kick 25-30 yards out (no Drogba wanting to take it) smacked the ball like a rocket heading into the top corner only for Carson to make a fantastic save a push the ball over the bar.

Chelsea were well on top now and we continued to dominate. West Brom sat back deeper and deeper to defend as Chelsea once again broke free down our left hand side.

Didier Drogba tracking back, won the ball inside our own half down the left hand side and played a first time ball down the line to Malouda who was once again free down the wing. Malouda carried the ball into the box, looked up and found Frank Lampard with one of his customary late runs in the box. In space, Lampard had time to take a touch and slot the ball home into the bottom corner to make it 3-1. It was game over.

Chelsea's first half display took us back to how we had started the season and our attacking display was the best it has been for weeks. West Brom simply couldn't cope with our movement. It was a good first half display full of character after going a goal down.

The second half was the same, Chelsea dominating possession and West Brom looking to hit us on the counter attack. Chris Brunt had a free kick inches wide of the post, shot wide and headed straight at Petr Cech but it was all that West Brom could muster as Chelsea created again.

Carson was the busier keeper once more as he picked up the ball out of the net after Malouda had scored but was disallowed. Watched as Didier Drogba's long range effort flew over the bar, saved from Malouda, and saved a John Terry volley in the final minutes.

Fernando Torres came on with 8 minutes to go and had the ball in the net but was again disallowed for offside so as you can imagine there would be further headlines to follow.

It was a fantastic performance from Chelsea who easily brushed aside West Brom and won with ease. It was the kind of performance we have been looking for against United, Liverpool and Arsenal that never came. Such a shame that only now we make the switch back to 4-3-3 like last season to see just how good we can be.

Carlo said after the game:

'Didier played very well, as did all the team, It is not easy to come here but we showed good character and personality, a good reaction to the goal because we maintained composure and the performance was really good.

We played 4-3-3, maintaining Kalou and Malouda a little wide because West Brom have fantastic defensive organisation and they close very well the middle of the pitch using two lines close together. We wanted to play wide to have opportunities to put some crosses in and in the first half, on the left side we were very dangerous.

Didier this year had the problem of malaria so lost some months when he was not 100 per cent but after that he has been able to use his abilities for the team. He has a body that means he can continue a long time as long as he continues to train well and be professional.

The club bought Torres not to replace Drogba. We bought him because he is a fantastic striker and he is young but Drogba has been a very important player for this club and he will be in the future.

We have a clear aim, to win the next six games, do our best and then wait and see what happens to the other teams."

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-1-1):Carson; Reid, Meite, Olsson, Shorey; Brunt (c), Scharner (Jara 72), Mulumbu, Thomas (Tchoyi 81); Morrison (Vela 72); Odemwingie.
Unused subs Myhill, Tamas, Fortune, Cox
Goals Odemwingie 16
Booked Meite 33

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic (Bosingwa 62), David Luiz, Terry (c), Cole; Essien, Mikel, Lampard (Benayoun 76); Kalou, Drogba (Torres 81), Malouda
Unused subs Turnbull, Ferreira, Zhirkov, Anelka
Goals Drogba 21, Kalou 25, Lampard 44

KTBFFH