Chelsea 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion

Drogba back on target

AdrianDennis/AFP

Didier Drogba returned to the starting line-up with a bang

Scoring Summary
Chelsea	West Bromwich Albion
Didier Drogba (3)
Frank Lampard (45)

Match Stats
	Chelsea	West Bromwich Albion
Shots (on Goal)	25(12)	10(2)
Fouls	6	8
Corner Kicks	7	5
Offsides	4	3
Time of Possession	64%	36%
Yellow Cards	1	0
Red Cards	0	0
Saves	2	10

Match Information

Stadium: Stamford Bridge, England Attendance: 43,417 Match Time: 13:00 UK Official(s): R Styles (Referee)

Teams
Chelsea	West Bromwich Albion
1 Petr Cech	19 Scott Carson
2 Branislav Ivanovic	26 Jonas Olsson
33 Alex	23 Abdoulaye Meite
3 Ashley Cole	3 Paul Robinson
17 José Bosingwa	22 Gianni Zuiverloon
12 John Mikel Obi	14 Do-heon Kim
8 Frank Lampard	7 Robert Koren
13 Michael Ballack	8 Jonathan Greening
39 Nicolas Anelka	11 Chris Brunt
11 Didier Drogba	27 James Morrison
10 Joe Cole	12 Craig Beattie
Substitutes
35 Juliano Belletti	Dean Kiely 1
27 Mineiro	Leon Barnett 5
23 Carlo Cudicini	Luke Moore 16
15 Florent Malouda	Marek Cech 4
20 Deco	Roman Bednar 9
19 Paulo Ferreira	Borja Valero 28
21 Salomon Kalou	Graeme Dorrans 17
Substitutions
Juliano Belletti for José Bosingwa (45)	Leon Barnett for Abdoulaye Meite (27)
Florent Malouda for Didier Drogba (67)	Luke Moore for Craig Beattie (60)
Deco for Joe Cole (79)	Roman Bednar for Do-heon Kim (69)
Yellow Cards
Michael Ballack (74)
· Club Squads: Chelsea | West Bromwich Albion

Updated: December 26, 2008, 3:11 PM UK

• Wilkins delighted with Drogba

First-half goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard gave Chelsea their first home league win in four games.

The Blues took just three minutes to go in front with Drogba, making his first league appearance since the end of September, heading home a cross from Joe Cole.

It was the Ivorian's second goal of the season and his first in the Barclays Premier League this term.

In the ninth minute Lampard tried his luck with a 35-yard free-kick which Albion keeper Scott Carson did well to hold at the first attempt.

Drogba's goal allowed Chelsea the luxury of playing without the nervousness that had accompanied their last three league games at the Bridge.

A defeat by Arsenal and draws with Newcastle and West Ham had stunted their title charge in recent weeks.

Lampard should have done better in the 19th minute when Ashley Cole found him unmarked inside the Albion penalty area.

But the England midfielder, captain in the absence of the suspended John Terry, sent his shot wide of the target.

Moments later Chelsea carved out a fine move down the right flank but a cross from Jose Bosingwa eluded everyone in the six-yard box.

In the 32nd minute, Carson had to be alert to keep out a low drive from Michael Ballack as Chelsea increased the tempo.

Ten minutes before the break, Joe Cole fed namesake Ashley on the left but the defender saw his shot tipped onto the post by Carson.

The ball rebounded back to Ashley Cole but Carson also saved his second effort, even though it was going wide.

Chelsea's biggest threat was coming from the rampaging runs of Bosingwa on the right.

The full-back was virtually ever-present in attack such was Albion's lack of a cutting edge.

Chelsea made it two in first-half injury time when Joe and Ashley Cole linked up to provide Lampard with the chance to beat Carson from close range.

Chelsea replaced Bosingwa with Juliano Belletti at half-time and he was quickly into the action, but a neat combination of passes with Drogba ended with an attempted chip over Carson going far too high.

Anelka and Drogba were starting a game together for the first time this season but Scolari had kept faith with his 4-3-3 formation.

That meant Anelka found himself out on the left flank for large periods of the game - a position he disliked under former coach Avram Grant last season.

But it was clear Drogba offered Chelsea more power in the central role and in the 53rd minute his trickery and muscle opened up the Albion defence sufficiently for him to test Carson with a powerful shot.

Lampard should have scored his second of the game in the 58th minute but he was far too cavalier with his effort.

Anelka, for once in a central position, supplied the England midfielder with a perfect pass but Lampard's attempted chip was easily dealt with by Carson.

Three minutes later Ballack found Drogba in space on the right side of the penalty area but the Ivorian sent his shot swerving into the crowd as he looked for a second goal of the afternoon.

Moments later Drogba squandered another chance after a fabulous run from Anelka presented him with a clear-cut opportunity.

The Chelsea striker was foiled by Carson who punched away Drogba's effort. It was the Ivorian's last contribution as seconds later he was replaced by Florent Malouda.

Eight minutes from time Anelka tried his luck from 20 yards but sent his shot straight at Carson.

Malouda snatched wildly at a chance four minutes from the end of normal time but the France international hit the side netting.