BlueLion.

I think we will win the game, but Newcastle certainly are unpredictable. Hopefully we can put 4 past them like in Mourinho's first season

On the contrary, I thought he was excellent. I also noticed how JT was also crucified by Miller's pace and yet no-one batted an eyelid

Haha the orange goalkeepers kit as a whole is so garish I want the black shorts instead of the orange ones though

You're welcome, thanks for reading

I disagree, in the two PL games he has started, against Villa and West Brom, I think he has looked brilliant, actually.

Chelsea vs Newcastle United Michael Essien and Michael Ballack celebrate as Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, December 2007. Chelsea face Newcastle at Stamford Bridge as they look to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League. Last season, the Blues beat the Magpies both home and away - a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in December, followed by a 2-0 win at Saint James' Park in May handed the Blues six valuable points in two very difficult affairs. Newcastle have yet to win away from home this season, having taken just 2 points on the road. Chelsea, on the other hand, have a decent record at home, with 11 points from 18 games the current quota of points. The Blues have netted 32 goals and conceded just 4, whilst Newcastle have scored 17 and conceded 22. Can Chelsea continue their good start to the season? Or can Joe Kinnear's side dent their title hopes? Match chat here!

Great vid.

I heard the word 'metatarsal' mentioned by the Setanta commentators... I pray to god they're just suggesting possible causes...

Spot on, although Malouda was very creative today.

Match report - click here

In stoppage time now, very professional performance.

Drogba is coming on for Anelka. Lamps is running fine, now.

Kalou off for MB13.

Kalou lashes over... Ballack is coming on

Bosingwa was my captain... changed it to Defoe for some reason

West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Chelsea F.C. November 15 2008, Premier League, The Hawthorns, Birmingham Jose Bosingwa and Nicolas Anelka scored as Chelsea beat West Brom to stay top of the Premier League. The Blues were magnificent throughout, and after resolutely denying the home team, battered their way past the West Brom backline. Jose Bosingwa's sumptuous curling effort got the ball rolling for Chelsea, before a quick fire brace from in-form French striker Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea a three-goal advantage heading into the break. It was the ideal response from Luiz Felipe Scolari's side, after they had been dumped out of the Carling Cup in midweek by Championship outfit. Scolari elected to make five changes to the team, with John Terry, Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa, Nicolas Anelka and John Mikel Obi all reinstated to the starting eleven. With Petr Cech and Ashley Cole nursing injuries, Carlo Cudicini and Wayne Bridge continued to deputise, while Branislav Ivanovic kept his place at centre-half with Alex da Costa on the sidelines. Michael Ballack was on the bench after returning from injury. West Brom began brightly, and had a decent opportunity within 56 seconds of the kick-off, with James Morrison having a long-range effort that flew high over the bar, before Borja Valero had an effort fly just wide of Carlo Cudicini's upright. It was a positive start from the home side who had lined up in an attacking 4-4-2 formation, and they had successfully kept Chelsea's defence alert after a prolonged period of pressure early on. However, Chelsea's class in the midfield - notably through the highly influential Deco - was beginning to take its toll on West Brom, and whenever the hosts ventured forward, the Blues looked capable of tearing their opponents apart. Kalou and Malouda both lashed shots over whilst under pressure, before Frank Lampard forced a good save from Scott Carson. Played in by Deco, Lampard's left-footed drive was palmed away well by the former Aston Villa custodian, as Chelsea's quality began to show. Carson saved again from Malouda moments later as the French winger unleashed a hammer of a shot with his left foot that took a strong pair of wrists to keep out, as Chelsea inched closer and closer to the opening goal, but their breakthrough came from an unlikely source, as Jose Bosingwa launched an unstoppable, swerving effort into the top corner with his left boot, that Carson could only help into the goal as it looped over him. It was Bosingwa's second goal of the season - both in consecutive trips to the Midlands - and moments later the floodgates opened as Chelsea put another two past their opponents. Nicolas Anelka was the scorer of the second goal, as he collected a brilliant headed pass from Florent Malouda. Running along the wing, he entered the West Brom penalty area before coolly chipping over the advancing Scott Carson in similar fashion to the way he had sealed the game at Blackburn. It was a classy finish from the on-song Frenchman, and he had even more reason to smile moments later. Salomon Kalou danced around his marker before taking on another pair of defenders. The Ivorian's clever run allowed Anelka the time to run beyond the centre-backs, and, collecting the ball from his teammate, the Chelsea striker finished with aplomb on his left foot. The second half began as the first had ended, with the yellow-clad visitors in control. Anelka had a decent opportunity to fashion a chance for his hat-trick on 53 minutes, but instead passed to Deco, whose shot was blocked by Jonas Olsson. At the other end, Andrade Filipe Teixeira - a second-half substitute for the home side - cut inside Bosingwa before launching a shot not too far over the crossbar that had Cudicini worried. The Albion were steadily pulling themselves back into the game, and whilst the scoreline suggested otherwise, the home side's second half performance was much improved on that of the opening 45 minutes. Despite this, the final ball into the penalty area was what was letting them down, as Cudicini made several clean catches from dead-ball deliveries. Michael Ballack was soon reintroduced to first-team football, as the German midfielder came on for Salomon Kalou. With 11 minutes remaining, Branislav Ivanovic made a good block to deny Ishmael Miller, who had been causing trouble for much of the match. Teixeira had another effort soon after, but not before John Terry was taken off due to injury. The England and Chelsea skipper was later seen sitting on the bench with an ice pack attached to his foot - the only down side to a thoroughly professional performance from the visitors. Kim volleyed wide when in a good position and Malouda wasted a good chance to add a fourth goal when his diving header from Deco's delivery floated harmlessly wide. Didier Drogba came on to replace Anelka with a quarter of an hour remaining. The Chelsea number 11 later had an effort from 12 yards blocked by Paul Robinson, but a resolute performance in the second period from West Brom had restricted Chelsea to just the three goals. The result, nevertheless, means Chelsea remain top of the Premier League for yet another weekend. __________________________________________________________________ West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Robinson, Koren, Morrison, Greening, Borja Valero, Miller, Bednar Subs: Kim, Filipe Teixeira, Donk Chelsea: Cudicini, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Bridge, Lampard, Mikel, Deco, Kalou, Anelka, Malouda Subs: Drogba, Ballack, Ferreira Attendance: 26,322 Star Man: Nicolas Anelka

Anelka, 3-0

Anelka 2-0 That boy is brilliant right now.

WHAT A STUNNING GOAL

BOSINGWA 1-0!!!

Malouda with a very poor touch. West Brom are playing really well. Edit - Malouda with a shot, decent stop by the goalkeeper.

Carson saves well from Lampard.

Malouda smashes high and wide.

Kalou wastes a glorious chance, and not the first time this week.

Ivanovic has a really good reading of the game, good play to close down Miller there.