Chelsea 3 – West Brom 0: Sack threat lifts on Conte as Hazard and Giroud shine

The under-fire Italian, who may well have lost his job had Chelsea lost this knife-edge match, barely celebrated the opening goal from Eden Hazard. But when the second one went in from Victor Moses, it was the old Conte – pumping his fists and yelling furiously at the crowd.

Chelsea are back up into fourth place, where they need to be, after a dismal run of three defeats in four games leading up to this match.

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But the introduction of Olivier Giroud proved crucial for Chelsea.

His lovely touch enabled Hazard to give them the lead, and though Alan Pardew’s Albion fought hard and had their moments, the second goal from Moses killed them off. Hazard’s solo third was the icing on the cake.

Pardew’s men have now won only once in 13 games since he took over, and, five points adrift at the bottom, seven points from safety, things look grim.

For Antonio, life goes on. For now.

The under-pressure Conte handed Giroud, his new £18 million signing from Arsenal, his first start in a Chelsea shirt – but axed after the 4-1 disaster at Watford were defenders Gary Cahill and David Luiz.

Chelsea started the night in fifth place and those Champions League spots, or the failure to bag one of them, is what has proved terminal for Stamford Bridge managers in the past.

Ominously for Conte though, Pardew arrived with the chance to become the first manager to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era with three different teams. He had done it before with Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

Bottom of the table Albion, though, had won only three league games all season.

Conte, after a season-long running battle with his board over transfers, and even more so after recent dismal results, was vulnerable. In the buildup the Italian had insisted he was a “disaster” at persuading his board to buy players, but good at improving them.

Unfortunately for Albion, Daniel Sturridge lasted only just under three minutes against his old club, limping off after going over on his right ankle. But they almost took the lead when Salomon Rondon thundered a header just wide from Matt Phillips’ cross.

The crowd were chanting Conte’s name, but shaky Chelsea were even luckier when Moses’ dreadful backheader dropped straight to Jay Rodriguez, but the Albion striker criminally shot wide.

Then Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross came right through to Davide Zappacosta, but Ben Foster pulled off a fine point-blank save.

And when Hazard found Giroud eight yards out, again Foster was in the way with a brave stop. But the breakthrough finally came.

Hazard played a neat one-two with Giroud and buried his drive low into the far corner for his 14th goal of the season.

The relief around Stamford Bridge was immense. As Giroud put a bicycle kick just wide, the difference the big Frenchman – who ended up with a bandaged head after being trodden on by Ahmed Hegazi – had made up front for Conte’s team was all too evident. Chelsea kept up the pressure in the second half, but while there was only one goal in it there was always tension.

And then came the goal that finally allowed Chelsea fans to breathe. Moses cut inside, picked up the return from Cesc Fabregas via the unwitting Craig Dawson and finished coolly past Foster.

Eight minutes later Hazard left Jonny Evans trailing on the right and curled his shot into the corner.

CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 7, Christensen 7 (Cahill 74), Rudiger 6; Moses 6, Kante 7, Fabregas 7, Zappacosta 7; Pedro 7 (Willian 80), Giroud 7 (Morata 60, 6), Hazard 8. Goals: Hazard 25, 71, Moses 63. 

NEXT UP: Hull (h), Fri FAC.

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Foster 7; Dawson 6, Evans 6, Hegazi 6, Gibbs 6; Phillips 6, Barry 6 (Yacob 80), Krychowiak 6, Brunt 6 (Burke 45, 6); Rondon 7, Sturridge 6 (Rodriguez 4, 6). Booked: Evans, Gibbs.

NEXT UP: Southampton (h), Sat FAC.

Referee: L Mason (Bolton).