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Matheus Pereira\u2019s fine brace sparked West Brom\u2019s stunning 5-2 Premier League rout of 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\nMatheus Pereira\u2019s fine brace sparked West Brom\u2019s stunning 5-2 Premier League rout of 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n
Thiago Silva was sent off for two yellow cards after just 29 minutes as Thomas Tuchel\u2019s 14-match unbeaten start at the Chelsea helm came to a startling end.<\/p>\n
Brazilian forward Pereira took his two goals in first-class fashion before Callum Robinson\u2019s double and a smart finish from Mbaye Diagne sealed relegation-battling West Brom\u2019s first win in four league games.<\/p>\n
Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount hit the net for Chelsea but the Blues tasted defeat for the first time since January 19.<\/p>\n
West Brom\u2019s comprehensive victory proved their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1978.<\/p>\n
Tuchel predicted before kick-off that veteran center-back Silva would not last the course on his first match since February 4 due to a thigh injury.<\/p>\n
But the Blues\u2019 German boss could never have predicted the manner of Silva\u2019s premature exit, a first red card since 2013.<\/p>\n
West Brom manager Sam Allardyce admitted in midweek he was \u201cjealous\u201d of Tuchel\u2019s array of top talent at Chelsea.<\/p>\n
But the Stamford Bridge chief could be forgiven, on the day at least, for envying the Baggies\u2019 superior finishing power, especially from the hugely-impressive Pereira.<\/p>\n
As much as the international break cursed Chelsea, so it blessed the Baggies.<\/p>\n
Tuchel had just one full training session with his senior squad to prepare for this Saturday lunchtime kick-off while Allardyce quite clearly capitalized on an extended run without a fixture to drill his West Brom charges.<\/p>\n
Silva\u2019s red card undoubtedly changed the course of this match but West Brom deserve huge plaudits for both their tactical discipline and clinical attacking play.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s slow start was eased by Pulisic\u2019s smart reaction to rush first to the loose ball and tap home after Marcos Alonso\u2019s free-kick.<\/p>\n
Alonso\u2019s curling effort struck the post but Pulisic stormed in and slotted into the net to put the Blues ahead.<\/p>\n
Spain full-back Alonso could so easily have put Chelsea ahead moments earlier when Darnell Furlong headed clear under pressure as he lurked behind him ready to pounce at the far post.<\/p>\n
Just as Chelsea looked to cement their control, however, their situation crumbled.<\/p>\n
Silva\u2019s big return was over inside half an hour as he was sent off for a second yellow card.<\/p>\n
In a near carbon copy of his first booking, Silva was dismissed when battling to recover from a loose Jorginho pass.<\/p>\n
Both times the Brazil veteran had too much to do and wound up sliding in late \u2013 but the second yellow for his challenge on Okay Yokuslu certainly appeared harsh.<\/p>\n
Hakim Ziyech was the luckless fall guy for the red card, sacrificed and subbed off to bring defender Andreas Christensen into the action.<\/p>\n
Chelsea switched to a 4-4-1 with Reece James on the wing, Pulisic on the left and Timo Werner up front on his own.<\/p>\n
While Chelsea were caught up with recalibrating, though, the Baggies busied themselves with turning the tables.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone\u2019s raking pass bisected the new-look Blues defense and Pereira raced through, controlled and then lobbed the stranded Edouard Mendy to put the visitors level.<\/p>\n
In a flash Pereira was on the scoresheet again, keeping his cool and sorting out his feet in the area before sliding home another smart finish.<\/p>\n
The half-time whistle handed Chelsea a chance to draw breath and further tweak their new set-up, with the visitors leading 2-1.<\/p>\n
Mason Mount replaced Pulisic at the break, with the dependable academy graduate having only been on the bench after three straight matches with England during a draining international break.<\/p>\n
Alonso\u2019s low effort was deflected onto the post to open the second half after Johnstone had flapped at James\u2019 hoisted cross.<\/p>\n
Mateo Kovacic saw a drive deflected over the bar, then Kurt Zouma hooked high and wide from a corner.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s designs on restoring parity evaporated when Furlong capped a fine West Brom move with a dangerous cross which Robinson turned home in style in the 63rd minute.<\/p>\n
Five minutes later, Diagne drilled home a fourth as the 10-men hosts started to unravel but then all of a sudden Mount slotted home to make it 4-2.<\/p>\n
Werner could \u2013 and should \u2013 have taken on Johnstone and scored but opted instead to play in Mount, who made no mistake.<\/p>\n
The last word belong to West Brom, however, with Robinson on target again, lifting over Mendy for his second of the day in stoppage time.<\/p>\n