hour into the game Chelsea had created
just two goalscoring opportunities, despite
dominating possession throughout. It actually
looked like West Brom were more likely goal
scorers. David Luiz’s shaky play gifted the
impressive Salomon Rondon the best chance of
the first half, but the striker sent the ball just
wide.
Costa scored with his only shot, and also
created three of Chelsea’s six chances
Pulis had clearly instructed his players to both
pack the area and ensure Chelsea’s wide men
were marked at all times. On the right hand
side, for example, Craig Dawson and Chris
Brunt doubled up on Marcos Alonso and Eden
Hazard, effectively playing two fullbacks as
Chelsea operated with two wingers.
This deprived Hazard and Pedro of the space
they have been exploiting for the past few
weeks, while the penalty area
containing dominant aerial forces like Gareth
McAuley and Jonny Evans, as well as the
retreating defenders, meant Diego Costa was
unlikely to find any joy there.
WBA made 23 clearances as they looked to
pack the penalty area.
Chelsea’s goals in recent weeks have generally
come from exploiting a high line, or using their
talent out wide to fashion chances for their
main marksman. Pulis’ message to Conte was
simple: he wouldn’t be able to do either today.
Here is where the Chelsea manager deserves a
great deal of credit. It takes a brave man to
shuffle his pack when dealing with a group of
players who have been so imperiously
successful in the formation on the pitch, yet
that is what Conte did. Initially moving to a
4-2-4 with Moses and Willian wide, and then a
4-3-3 with Fabregas in an advanced playmaker
role.
It was this final switch that struck gold, when
Costa’s fine finish broke the deadlock in what
proved to be the winning goal. While many will
point to McAuley’s poor defending, it was the
tactical reshuffle that had enabled Costa to
breach the West Brom line that had been so
deep all game.
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