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West Brom 0-1 Chelsea: Antonio Conte understands what Premier League is all about
ON THE face of things, West Brom could not have been more perfect as hosts for Chelsea’s coronation party.
Antonio Conte won the Premier League in his first season as Chelsea boss
Out of trouble and out of form, with two points from their last six matches and with one eye on their holiday loungers.
Prior to kick-off, the music – Harry J Allstars classic The Liquidator, which preluded action here and at Stamford Bridge – suggested it was a place where Chelsea were going to feel right at home.
Yet while the fans may have duetted heartily and Antonio Conte and Tony Pulis shared a warm embrace on the touchline, it was clear from an early stage that nothing was on a plate here in the West Midlands last night.
Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to score the winner for Chelsea
Chelsea players celebrate winning Premier League title with fans
That it proved such tough going for Chelsea spoke volumes about the Premier League.
This was nothing new to Conte, who will have realised before the leaves were off the trees in September that every team in the Premier League are capable of landing a punch. And
a typically muscular Pulis side delivered a couple of warning shots early last night.
Within minutes of the start, Salomon Rondon had bustled his way into a shooting position only to whistle a powerful effort over.
And there were two challenges in the first half that told the visitors that the Baggies should not be taken lightly. First James McClean ‘brickwalled’ Victor Moses on the edge of the box and then Sam Field hacked Pedro to the floor, both challenges rightly earning their executors yellow cards.
Chelsea celebrated afterwards in the dressing room
Pulis had made it quite clear beforehand that there was more than pride at stake but there was a little more than that at play last night – the natural competitiveness of a side who did not want to see the title claimed on their patch unless they were doing the claiming.
But whereas other teams may have settled for the draw against them last night, it was the mark of the champions Chelsea now are that they found a winner – and in the 82nd minute too.
The Baggies were liquidated after all and the party could start in earnest all the way to Monday.
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