The hosts opened the scoring courtesy of a set-piece as Ba latched onto a Luiz header across, and were largely untested for the rest of the sport by the lacklustre Baggies. As was expected, Benitez created wholesale changes from his side's make an impression on Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, as Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Demba Ba all came ultimately back to the beginning XI. Bob Clarke, meanwhile, made two added modifications as, with Romelu Lukaku unable to play against his parent club and leader Chris Brunt injured, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Graham Dorrans stepped in. Chelsea had the higher of the opening moments and were almost forward after just 3 minutes as Oscar almost transformed Ba's combination only to be refused by a smart Foster save. Apart from a Steven Reid free kick that Petr Cech tipped over, the home part was able to get a grip on the initial phases as Oscar and Ba both missed further possibilities to break the deadlock within the opening half-an-hour. Eventually however, Chelsea's target came and it absolutely was thanks to a cleverly-worked short corner. Oscar received the ball short from the following set-piece and whipped a corner towards the back-post, after having a Luiz free kick was tipped adeptly extensive by Foster. Luiz was there to head the ball right back over the target, finding Ba on the side of the six-yard field to put your home area deservedly forward after 28 minutes. After seeing out the rest of a first half, the Baggies' second half continued in much the same vein as Chelsea dominated the opening quarter-hour, although without actually testing Foster. The game took a good change by having an time gone, nevertheless, as the hosts appealed for a fee after Olsson appeared to carry down Hazard in the place, only for the referee to wave the statements absent. Oscar went nearest to putting his side further forward with around fifteen minutes remaining as he was rejected twice in quick succession by Foster. With the house area proving unable to further capitalise on their popularity, the Baggies started initially to threaten with twenty minutes left on the time as Cech was tried twice in a matter of minutes. Substitute Peter Odemwingie required the 30-year-old to tip over from a free of charge end before then had to side away a Azpilicueta header, but Cech and Chelsea held out for the three things.
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