The result may have been the defeat we all expected, but the performance will surely have given Baggies fans hope for the remainder of the season. Albion can count themselves unlucky to have been beaten, and it is particularly galling that it was defensive errors rather than excellent football from the Champions that led to the two Chelsea goals. Of course, Albion have put in similar performances before this season - what they need to do is reproduce them on a regular basis.

Robson opted to go with Kevin Campbell as a central striker to match Chelsea's formation with Kamara and Greening supporting him out wide, and he handed a first Premiership start to Jan Kozak in midfield. Inamoto returned to the starting line-up with Kanu dropping to the bench. Chelsea were without Frank Lampard, and Mourinho went with Duff and Robben on the wings with Essien, Makelele and Gudjohnsen in the middle. England's midweek star, Joe Cole, was on the bench.

The first half was a relatively cagey affair with the home side having the better of it. There were few clear cut chances - a Campbell header from Kamara's free kick, and an effort from Jan Kozak were the best early on as Albion kept the visitors back in their own half. Kamara also went close just before the break when he fired into the side netting.

The feeling at half time was that Chelsea couldn't possibly be as ineffective after the break, and that it was probably a missed opportunity for Albion that they hadn't managed to take the lead. We expected better things after the break, but perhaps not quite the controversy that we got.

It all started before the second half even kicked off. The Albion players came out on the pitch and it was a couple of minutes before Chelsea appeared. And when they did, they were two men down as Drogba and Gallas too another minute or so to emerge. Robson was furious with what he felt was gamesmanship on behalf of Mourinho.

The second half looked to be heading in a similar direction to the first until, six minutes in, a combination of bad luck and poor defending handed Chelsea the lead. Inamoto attempted pass deflected off Duff and fell kindly for Drogba on the edge of the box. There were plenty of Albion defenders around, but somehow the Ivorian striker managed to find space to get in a shot that Kuszczak's weak hand could not keep out. The Pole will be disappointed with his effort, but Davies and Clement should've done better in front of him.

The goal didn't produce the expected onslaught from the visitors as Albion continued to have more possession. Kamara was desperately unlucky when his shot from just inside the area took two deflections before flying away from a corner. And then the game erupted.

Greening, Kozak and Robinson were combining well with some neat passes until Arjen Robben decided he'd had enough and lunged at Greening with a wild two-footed challenge. Players from both teams surrounded the referee and he showed the Dutchman a deserved red card. I don't agree with players pressuring the referee in such instances, but I can understand why Albion players did so as the Chelsea players did exactly that in the first half when Wallwork was deservedly booked. I can never remember having seen Albion players do it before, and I'd prefer not to see it again. The only way to stop the big clubs doing it, as they are the main culprits, it is to brandish yellow and red cards, which referee's seem unwilling to do. Mark Halsey also made a rod for his own back when he changed his mind in the Fulham-Chelsea game last season, so he may get it more than other referees.

So Chelsea were down to ten men, and Albion were hopeful of getting back into the game. They perhaps should've had a chance a couple of minutes later when Campbell appeared to blocked off by Huth as he ran into the area, but Halsey waved play on.

A few minutes later, Drogba theatrically threw himself to the ground when Greening came close to him after he's played a crossfield ball. Halsey waved play on, and the replays showed that Greening had made no real challenge, but that Drogba had kicked Jonno's knee with his follow through. The incident sparked further harsh words on the touchline with Mourinho almost having to be restrained has he responded to Robson's accusation of play-acting against Drogba, a view that holds merit.

Robson made a change with twenty minutes to go, which is one I agreed with although I would have made it earlier. Campbell and Inamoto were replaced by Ellington and Kanu as Albion went 4-4-2. Unfortunately, straight after the change, Chelsea went two up. Wallwork made a rare error when his misplaced pass was picked up by Drogba, although I felt Clement was a little flat-footed. The former Chelsea man did manage to recover and block the shot, but as the ball bobbled around in the box, it fell for substitute Cole whose deflected shot beat Kuszczak.

It was a bitter blow for Albion who didn't really deserve to be behind, let alone two down. But the difference was that Chelsea had taken their chances, even if it was Albion that had created them!

To their credit, Albion kept battling and trying to find a way through the Chelsea defence. Kanu went close with a header before he finally did find the net, side-footing home Robinson's cross with two minutes left. Even though it was late in the game, there was still time for another penalty shout when Kamara went down under challenge from Huth. At the time, I thought it looked a clear penalty, but I have to doff my hat to Mr Halsey as the TV replays prove it was a clear dive by the Senegal international.

In fact, I think Mark Halsey had a very good game with his two real mistakes being the failure to book either Drogba or Kamara for "simulation" or whatever they call it these days. The Campbell penalty shout could've been given, but it would've perhaps been a little harsh.

In the end, Albion had only themselves to blame with the two mistakes that led to Chelsea's goals. Against a lesser side, they may have got away with them, but Chelsea rarely fail to take such opportunities. It was an encouraging performance by Albion and if they play with the same grit, determination and skill in every game between now and the end of the season, they should survive, but producing such performances on a consistent basis has proved difficult.

With Birmingham losing at Middlesbrough, it's as you were between the two teams battling for that fourth bottom slot. It's D-Day next week as the two of us meet at St Andrew's in a game that will not perhaps decide who goes down, but will hand a huge psychological boost to one side.

Marks

Tomasz Kuszczak - 6 - Should've done better with Drogba's goal; otherwise did well.
Martin Albrechtsen - 7 - One of his best games for a while; solid defensively and got forward well.
Neil Clement - 6 - An improved performance, spoiled by a couple of lapses.
Curtis Davies - 6 - As with Clem, a good performance spoiled by his one real lapse - I thought his inexperience showed for the first goal as he went too far across.
Paul Robinson - 7 - Good game from Robbo, although disappointed to see him leading the protests following the Robben challenge.
Ronnie Wallwork - 7 - MOM. Another great performance; shame about the misplaced pass.
Jonathan Greening - 7 - A good display from Jonno, although his corners were poor again.
Junichi Inamoto - 6 - Did OK but never really influenced too much.
Jan Kozak - 7 - Impressive full debut. Some excellent passing.
Kevin Campbell - 6 - Decent performance, some good touches but never really threatened.
Diomansy Kamara - 7 - Did well, some great skills, but his set pieces were disappointing.


Nathan Ellington - 6 - Did OK, without really looking dangerous.
Nwankwo Kanu - 6 - Good finish for the goal.
Steve Watson - Not on long enough.

Bryan Robson - 7 - I didn't agree with the starting line-up, but it worked in containing Chelsea, but he should've changed it earlier when we were a goal behind.


Jon Want, 5th March 2006.