Champions Chelsea recorded their first victory of the season during a highly entertaining encounter against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns this afternoon.
James Morrison missed an early penalty for the hosts, before debutant Pedro and Diego Costa put the Blues 2-0 up. Morrison then went some way to atoning when he reduced the deficit, but left-back Cesar Azpilicueta scored just before the break to restore Chelsea's two-goal advantage.
There was further drama shortly after the restart when Chelsea skipper John Terry was red carded, but despite Morrison scoring another goal in the 59th minute, Jose Mourinho's men held out to claim all three points.
Find out how the match unfolded with Sports Mole's minute by minute updates below.
Afternoon all. Draws were very much on the agenda in the Premier League yesterday afternoon, but that will do neither of these sides any good. Both West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea are yet to win this season, so no doubt they will be doing all that they can to claim all three points.
First of all, though, let's take a look at the team news from The Hawthorns, starting with the visitors. Does Pedro start? The answer is coming up very shortly.
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Costa
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Cahill, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Remy, Falcao
There you have it - Pedro is thrown in by Jose Mourinho for his Chelsea debut. The Spanish winger has replaced Ramires, who has dropped out of the squad completely. Captain John Terry has also been included, despite being substituted after 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium last week. In fact, it's his partner Gary Cahill that finds himself on the bench to ensure that there is room for Kurt Zouma. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is also back between the posts, having served a one-match suspension.
And now for the home side, who also have a player making their full debut...
WEST BROM XI: Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt; McManaman, Morrison, Fletcher, Yacob, McClean; Rondon
WEST BROM SUBS: Rose, Chester, Lescott, Gardner, Gnabry, Anichebe, Lambert
As you can see, club-record signing Salomon Rondon makes his first Premier League start in West Brom colours. But, while the Venezuelan features, there is no Saido Berahino in the squad. The England Under-21 international has been the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur of late, so his omission is bound to get tongues wagging. Rickie Lambert is among the substitutes, while Callum McManaman and James McClean have come into the starting lineup.
Excited West Brom fans? The 25-year-old scored a more than respectable 28 goals in 57 outings for Zenit St Petersburg. It wouldn't be a bad way to mark his full debut with a goal, would it?!
Looking at that West Brom team, it's interesting to note that Tony Pulis has opted for one up front. Against Manchester City on the opening day he started with Lambert and Berahino as a pairing and saw his side battered by last season's runners-up. This time around, it's back to a more Pulis-esque 4-5-1 with Rondon leading the attack. Lessons have been learnt it would seem.
Staying with Pulis, he has a fantastic record against his Chelsea counterpart. He has gone toe to toe with Mourinho on three occasions, with the West Brom boss coming out on top twice - only Sir Alex Ferguson beat Mourinho once! Not only that, his name could well work in his favour. How? Mourinho's last six defeats have come against managers with surnames beginning with 'P': Pulis, Poyet, Pardew, Pochettino, Pulis, and Pellegrini
And one final bit from Pulis, who has been talking to Sky Sports News about the absence of Tottenham target Berahino.
"It's ridiculous that we're talking about something outside of football. If you close the transfer window before the season starts, everyone can concentrate on football. There are a lot of clubs that get affected by the transfer window still being open. We're playing Chelsea today - the champions-elect - and we're not talking about football, which I think is down to the system."
What about Chelsea then? The introduction of Pedro is certainly an impressive one. The trio of him, Eden Hazard and Willian behind Diego Costa is an exciting prospect, so it will be interesting to see how they all link up this afternoon. Hazard and Costa in particular have been a long way short of reproducing last season's form this time around, but perhaps the arrival of Pedro may spark things into life.
300 UP! It's also a milestone encounter for Mourinho, who is taking charge of Chelsea for the 300th time today.
And here is Mourinho, talking to Sky Sports News moments ago.
On Pedro: "Let's not demand everything on the first day. Everyone knows his qualities, it's just a question of how long he needs to adapt. I have no doubts he's a super player."
On picking Zouma, dropping Cahill: "I knew the question was coming. Next week instead of giving the lineup, we'll give the list of players that are not playing. I don't have to [talk about it]."
VIDEO PREVIEW! With the start of this encounter fast approaching, why not take a look at what the Sports Mole Sofa has to say? Here, our very own Pascal Lemesre and Barney Corkhill predict the outcome.
STATS!
Courtesy of our matchday preview piece, here are three statistics regarding this particular fixture.
1. West Brom defeated Chelsea 3-0 at home last season; the joint-heaviest defeat that Jose Mourinho has ever suffered in the Premier League.
2. No team has defeated WBA more often in the Premier League than Chelsea (13 wins, level with Arsenal).
3. No team has won the top-flight title after gaining exactly one point from their opening two games since Liverpool in 1981-82.
Right, the players are now out on the pitch at The Hawthorns and are going through the pre-match handshakes. Not long now until we will be off and running in the Black Country.
KICKOFF! Referee Mark Clattenburg blows his whistle for the first time and it's hosting West Brom that get proceedings underway.
CHANCES! The first real attack of note comes from West Brom and they go close to breaking the deadlock. Dawson's cross from the right is not cleared by Chelsea, but despite both having good chances, neither McClean nor Rondon can make a clean connection. Then, seconds later up the other end, Costa drags his shot wide from 10 yards out. Good start at The Hawthorns.
We've seen very little of the mercurial Belgian so far, who once again looks a little off-colour.
Right on cue Hazard springs into life as he weaves his way to the left byline. But, his cross towards the back post, which is intended for an advancing Pedro, is easily cleared by Brunt.
PENALTY TO WEST BROM!
SAVE! Oh dear James Morrison! He takes the penalty off Chris Brunt, but his drilled effort is turned over the crossbar by the legs of Chelsea goalkeeper Courtois. What a chance that was for the home side to take the lead. There was never any doubt about it being penalty as Matic clearly wiped out McManaman as the West Brom winger looked to work enough room for a shot.
BOOKING! And now Matic goes into the book for bringing down McManaman, although on this occasion the incident was nowhere near the penalty area.
CHANCE! Another really good opening for the home team as Morrison floats over a cross from the right flank. Dawson gets up higher than anyone else inside the Chelsea box, but he plants his header over. The replay shows that the defender should have done much better with that chance.
GOAL! WEST BROM 0-1 CHELSEA (PEDRO)
Well, that looks like £21m well spent. The former Barcelona man exchanges passes with Hazard on the edge of the box and then somehow squeezes his low shot through the legs of Olsson. It completely deceives Myhill and in turn the ball squirms into the net off the post. Having failed to score from the penalty spot, West Brom now trail. You have to take chances against sides like Chelsea.
"Are you watching Manchester?" That's the chant from the away fans as they goad supporters of Manchester United. Having watched the Red Devils face Newcastle United yesterday afternoon, they are certainly crying out for a player of Pedro's dynamism in attack. Still, United's loss is Chelsea's gain.
STAT!
GOAL! WEST BROM 0-2 CHELSEA (COSTA)
It becomes even more confusing as to why United opted out of signing Pedro! One moment Chelsea are defending a corner, the next minute the ball is in the West Brom net. Hazard plays a pass out wide for the new signing, who drills a shot goalwards from a narrow angle. It does appear that the ball is going wide, but a sliding Costa is able to turn it into an empty net. Classic counter-attack from Chelsea, with Pedro heavily involved. Game over? It's certainly a long way back for the hosts.
GOAL! WEST BROM 1-2 CHELSEA (MORRISON)
Game over? No chance! Morrison will be feeling a lot better after his failure from the penalty spot when the score was 0-0. McClean's cross from the left is overhit, but Rondon keeps it alive acrobatically. The ball drops for Morrison 12 yards from goal and the Scot powers a low shot underneath the body of Courtois. West Brom are back in it - what a good first half it's been at The Hawthorns!
BOOKING! First caution of the match for West Brom and it's gone to McClean for chopping down Pedro. It seemed a bit needless from the West Brom winger because there was plenty of cover.
CHANCE! Make that a golden chance! Pedro is once again heavily involved as he skips away from one challenge and then squares a pass for Willian. The Brazilian seems to have the most simple of finishes 12 yards from goal, but with Myhill rooted to the spot, he steers his effort wide.
GOAL! WEST BROM 1-3 CHELSEA (AZPILICUETA)
Not a bad time to score your first ever Premier League goal for Chelsea! It starts with Fabregas's chipped pass forward, which an off-balance Costa chests down. But, just when it seems that the chance is gone, Chelsea's left-back pops up from nowhere and is able to squeeze his shot inside Myhill's near post. The Blues have restored their two-goal lead and that will be a kick in the teeth for Pulis and his men.
There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of what has been an entertaining first half.
HALF-TIME: WEST BROM 1-3 CHELSEA
Well, if I'm being totally honest, I was not expecting this game to be as eventful! Chelsea lead 3-1 - thanks in part to a goal from debutant Pedro. Meanwhile, the hosts will still be ruing that missed penalty early on. There's plenty to talk about, that's for sure.
In truth, West Brom haven't done too much wrong performance-wise. They've attacked quite well, but that failure to score from the spot was a sucker-punch, as was that third goal for Chelsea just before the break. Now, they're two goals behind again and it's going to be a tough ask. It's a cliche, but the next goal is crucial - if West Brom score it, it's game on.
As for Chelsea, it will be new-boy Pedro that dominates the headlines after 45 minutes. He's been very good, scoring one goal and setting up Costa. They still look shaky defensively, which won't have pleased Mourinho, but at least there is more purpose about their play going forward.
MATCH ACTION! Before the second half gets underway, here is Courtois saving Morrison's penalty.
RESTART! Chelsea, who lead 3-1, get us back underway. Surely they'll claim all three points from here, won't they?!
There's been no changes from either manager during the break and what also hasn't altered is the weather. It's still hammering down with rain in the Black Country.
RED CARD! JOHN TERRY (CHELSEA)
He was substituted during the break last week and today Terry has lasted only nine minutes longer! The Chelsea skipper has been red carded for hauling down Rondon as the Venezuelan bore down on goal. He takes an age to leave the pitch and is not happy with the decision, but he's got to walk. That may well have opened the game up. More drama at The Hawthorns!
CHELSEA SUB: Mourinho has wasted no time in covering the absence of his captain as a masked Gary Cahill comes on to replace Willian.
CHANCE! Despite their numerical disadvantage, Chelsea go in search of a fourth goal as Costa wins a free kick following a tussle with Olsson. It's taken by Matic and the ball flies through the wall, only to be parried to safety by an alert Myhill.
GOAL! WEST BROM 2-3 CHELSEA (MORRISON)
We really have a game on our hands now! Once again McManaman is the architect as he swings over a cross from the left. Morrison times his run to perfection as he leaps above Matic to flick his headed effort over a helpless Courtois and into the far corner of the net. Had he not missed the penalty, the Scot would have a hat-trick to his name! What a match this is.
WEST BROM SUB: Now one goal behind, Pulis throws on another attacking threat in the form of Lambert. He's replaced McClean.
CHANCE! Pedro is having a stormer and West Brom must be aware of that - he's still a big threat! His cross from the right is a dangerous one that is met by Costa at the back post, but the Spanish striker's half-volley crashes into the advertising hoarding behind Myhill's goal. It's clear Chelsea want that fourth goal.
The debate over the Terry red card is still rumbling on over on Twitter. These two can't agree! Replays show that there wasn't much contact between Terry and Rondon, but it did look clumsy.
CHANCE! What a goal that would have been from McManaman, who has been one of the best players on the pitch today. He dances his way past Ivanovic with some great footwork inside the area, but there isn't enough curl on his low effort, which skids a yard wide of the post.
SUBS: Moments after he blazes a shot over the crossbar, Costa comes off to be replaced by Radamel Falcao. The Baggies have also made a change, with Serge Gnabry coming on for the impressive McManaman.
CHANCE! A decent opportunity for Falcao to make an instant impact as Pedro squares a low pass to the Colombian, but he scuffs his shot wide. Nevertheless, it's a warning to West Brom that a fourth goal is not beyond the away side, even with 10 men.
CHELSEA SUB: And that's the end of an impressive debut from Pedro, who trudges off looking a little tired. John Obi Mikel has taken his place for the last six minutes, plus stoppage time.
CHANCE! It hasn't happened for Hazard this season! Last year he would have buried this chance after a neat run, but from a decent position the Belgium international drags his shot wide. Chelsea keep knocking at the door, while time is running out for West Brom!
WEST BROM SUB: There will be no hat-trick for Morrison as he comes off to be replaced by Craig Gardner for the last couple of minutes.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time at the end of this contest. Can the Baggies snatch a dramatic equaliser?
SAVE! What an earth is Cahill doing?! For some reason he chests down Lambert's knockdown six yards from goal, which allows Rondon the chance to shoot. The angle is against West Brom's record signing, who sees his powerful effort bravely saved by Courtois. Nervy moments for the Blues, but they survive.
FULL TIME: WEST BROM 2-3 CHELSEA
Chelsea hold on as the final whistle is blown. It's their first win of the season against a spirited home side, who still await their first victory of 2015-16. But, if they keep playing like that, it won't take them too long to break their duck.
That is all we have time for from The Hawthorns. Thank you for joining Sports Mole this afternoon and be sure to look out for our match analysis, player ratings and reaction of what was a highly entertaining Premier League encounter. Until next time, goodbye.
