04/03/2006  West Brom 1 Chelsea 2
 
In Jose Mourinho's 100th match as manager of the Blues, goals from Didier Drogba and Joe Cole gave the visitors a 72nd win under the Portuguese's leadership - before Kanu pulled a goal back two minutes from time.

With Frank Lampard sidelined because of a hamstring injury Eidur Gudjohnsen came into the team. After his England exploits midweek, Joe Cole had to settle for a place on the bench.

West Brom were looking to bounce back after their defeat by Middlesbrough and ease their relegation blues. Jan Kozak came into midfield with Nigel Quashie suspended.

There was a joint minute's silence before the game in memory of Stamford Bridge legend, Peter Osgood and former West Brom employee Scott Poll.

Chelsea made a confident start and Drogba found the net after only five minutes - but his effort was ruled out for offside.

A minute later Damien Duff raced down the wing only to see his cross blocked by Martin Albrechtsen.

Chelsea kept the pot boiling and in the sixth minute Gudjohnsen scuffed a shot wide following a poor clearance from Albrechtsen.

West Brom, though, suddenly came into the game and in the ninth minute skipper Kevin Campbell get on the end of a cross from Diomansy Kamara but his powerful header was saved by Petr Cech.

Then a cross from Paul Robinson from the left was headed away by John Terry.

This was a good spell by the home side and Kozak, on his debut, lobbed over the bar from 12 yards.

West Brom were not lacking in confidence despite their recent poor run and Campbell was upended by Claude Makelele in a dangerous position but the free-kick came to nothing.

Chelsea looked out of sorts. Makelele tried to thread the ball through to Gudjohnsen in the 29th minute but overhit the pass.

A minute later Duff tried his luck with a volley only to see it taken cleanly by goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

Chelsea were anxious to make the breakthrough and Duff laid the ball back to Michael Essien in the 34th minute but he fired a shot over the top.

West Brom were making a decent fist of it and Jonathan Greening delivered a good cross which was headed to safety by Robert Huth.

Gudjohnsen then tried to release Drogba in the 39th minute but Paul Robinson made a timely interception.

Then Kamara picked up the ball from deep and rattled a shot that went narrowly wide of the post.

Then Ronnie Wallwork collected a yellow card for a stiff challenge on Makelele.

Baggies boss Bryan Robson appeared unhappy at Chelsea's late appearance for the second half.

But when the game restarted, the Blues began at a high tempo and Arjen Robben whipped in a cross which was cleared by Albrechtsen.

And the leaders made the breakthrough in the 51st minute thanks to Drogba's ninth goal of the season.

The Ivory Coast international showed good skill to weave his way into the West Brom area before delivering a low shot beyond goalkeeper Kuszczak.

It was just the lift Chelsea needed but the home side threatened two minutes later when Greening swung in a corner which was cleared by Essien.

But Chelsea continued to look dangerous every time they broke forward and Drogba almost added a second in the 57th minute - only for his effort to be pushed round the post by the goalkeeper.

West Brom looked a little bit short of confidence but Kamara broke forward, although his effort was deflected for a corner by Huth.

Chelsea were playing some nice football in an increasingly niggly game and Robben found Gudjohnsen, whose effort was easily caught by Kuszczak.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 62nd minute when Robben was given a straight red card by referee Mark Halsey after launching himself into Greening.

Mourinho then made a switch in the 64th minute bringing on Cole for Duff.

England's matchwinner almost scored with his first touch, his shot finishing just over the top of the bar.

Drogba was incensed by a challenge from Greening and so were the Chelsea bench - but Halsey waved play on and stewards moved in as Mourinho and his staff became more agitated.

Chelsea extended their lead in the 74th minute when the ball broke to Cole from Drogba and the substitute beat the 'keeper with his shot seemingly taking a deflection along the way.

Substitute Kanu pulled a goal back with a fine half-volley from Robinson's deflected cross from the left - but it was too little too late for the struggling home side.