Premier League: Mourinho: Draw shows why Chelsea won’t win the title
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 vs CHELSEA 1
CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho believes his team’s inability to hold firm for three points last night further indicates a title challenge has come too soon for them this season.
Defender Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea a first-half lead, but the Blues were put under heavy pressure in the final 15 minutes and succumbed when Victor Anichebe headed a late equaliser to move West Brom out of the bottom three.
Chelsea could fall from the top of the Premier League table to third place tonight should title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City win home games against Manchester United and Sunderland respectively.
And Mourinho feels his recent comments suggesting Chelsea are not ready to win the Premier League this season have been justified by their inability to take three points home from the Hawthorns.
“A ready team, a complete team, would have killed this game, 2-0, goodbye,” he said. “West Brom had a reaction and we were playing too deep, they deserved a goal.
“We have one more point than before. If Arsenal and City win they go above us, but that is their job to do.”
Chelsea’s best moments in the first half came through Willian, who blasted narrowly wide from the edge of the box and later saw a dipping volley inch over the crossbar.
Three minutes into stoppage time the Blues made the breakthrough when David Luiz flicked Willian’s corner to the far post, where Ivanovic was waiting, unmarked, to lash in.
After the interval, Willian continued to pull the strings for Chelsea but was twice denied by Foster after he had teed up Samuel Eto’o whose first-time effort was also pushed away by the England goalkeeper.
The Baggies finally looked to get a foothold in the game when Chris Brunt dragged a half-volley wide and defender Craig Dawson also missed the target with a header across goal.
But with three minutes remaining Anichebe breached the Chelsea defence for the first time in five matches after beating goalkeeper Petr Cech to Saido Berahino’s cross to glance in the equaliser.
Elsewhere, Cardiff were held to a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa, while a second-half strike from defender Jose Fonte earned Southampton a 1-0 win at Hull.