PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V WEST BROMWICH ALBION

WE HAVE HISTORY
In early December 1960 one of Chelsea's all-time great (some say greatest) marksmen destroyed visitors West Brom with an exhibition of brilliant opportunism.

Much of the damage was done in the first half, with their centre-half Bobby Robson (the very same) protesting about the validity of one or two of the goals while leaving the field at half-time.

Robson's argument was that the Chelsea legend was offside when he ran onto the ball and buried it in the Albion net. The truth is that Jimmy Greaves (pictured below) was called offside four other times but when scoring he had simply been used his guile and timing to steal away from Robson.

By adding another strike (in a 7-1 victory) Jimmy drew up level with Dixie Dean of Everton and Leicester's Arthur Chandler, the only others who had netted five goals in one match three times.

Back to today, and Chelsea are looking to extend our unbeaten run against West Bromwich to 21 games. The Baggies last win against us was in November 1983 in the League Cup third round at Stamford Bridge. The 20 game run consists of 17 wins and three draws.

Twenty-two-year-old Ray Wilkins captained the side including Clive Walker and Tommy Langley that last lost a league game to the Baggies. Albion won by the only goal scored by Ally Brown 31 years ago at the Hawthorns in the old First Division.

The last occasion the Baggies came away from the Bridge with a league win was in the same season in September 1978 when Ron Atkinson managed the side to a 3-1 victory. Goals came from John Wile, Cyrille Regis and Tony Brown. Steve Wicks scored for Chelsea.

LAST MEETING AT STAMFORD BRIDGE
Chelsea 6-0 West Bromwich Albion
Barclays Premier League, Saturday 14 August 2010

Chelsea Cech; Ferreira,Alex,Terry (c),Cole; Essien,Mikel,Lampard (c); Anelka,,Malouda; Drogba.
Substitutes Ivanovic for Ferreira (59), Benayoun for Lampard (64), Kalou for Drogba (69).
Manager Carlo Ancelotti
Scorers Malouda (5, 89), Drogba (45, 55, 67), Lampard (61)
Booked Ferreira

West Bromwich Albion Carson (c); Jara,Tamas, Ibanez, Cech: Mulumbu, Brunt; Morrison, Dorrans, Thomas; Bednar.
Substitutes Cox for Dorrans (67), Miller for Bednar (67), Barnes for Thomas (83).
Manager Roberto Di Matteo
Scorers None
Booked None.

Ref Mark Clattenburg
Attendance 41,589

Other match last season
16 April 2011 Barclays Premier League
West Brom.……..….1 Chelsea………..……3
Odemwingie 16           Drogba 21
                                        Kalou 25
                                        Lampard 44
           Att: 25,163

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion in all competitions
Games played 125
Chelsea wins 52
Baggies wins 40
Draws 33

Head to head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 55
Chelsea wins 27
Baggies wins 14
Draws 14

Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
Chelsea 7-1 West Brom - 03/12/1960
Chelsea 2-5 West Brom - 17/04/1929

DAYS SINCE
Chelsea lost a league game against the Baggies: 11,847
West Brom last lost in London: 228
Arsenal won a trophy: 2,282
Liverpool won a trophy: 1,925

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion