Pedro Rodriguez scored on his debut as Chelsea survived captain John Terry's dismissal to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 on Sunday and claim their first win of the season.
Home side West Brom, who left out star striker
Saido Berahino following a failed bid from
Tottenham Hotspur, scored twice through James
Morrison, who also had a penalty saved by Thibaut
Courtois.
But Jose Mourinho's visitors held on for victory
after Pedro had opened the scoring and had a hand in Chelsea's second, scored by Diego Costa to make it 2-0.
Cesar Azpilicueta scored a rare goal to give
Chelsea a 3-1 halftime lead after Morrison had
reduced the arrears.
And Terry, who was substituted at halftime against
Manchester City last weekend, lasted just 54
minutes before he was dismissed for a
professional foul on Salomon Rondon.
Morrison then headed in his second goal to set up
a tense finish, but Chelsea held on.
Costa fired the game's first real chance wide for
Chelsea in the opening minutes.
But the home side made an energetic start and
were rewarded with a penalty in the 13th minute
when Nemanja Matic was adjudged to have tripped
Callum McManaman, although the visitors were
upset with referee Mark Clattenburg's decision.
Courtois came to his side's rescue, however, as he
saved with his trailing leg as he dived to stop
Morrison's drilled, low effort from the spot.
Albion should have led on 18 minutes, too, when
Craig Dawson rose highest to meet a Morrison
free-kick, but sent his header over the bar.
And they were punished on 20 minutes when
Pedro began to repay his transfer fee, believed to
be in the region of £21.2 million.
The Spain international, formerly of Barcelona,
exchanged passes on the edge of the penalty area
with Eden Hazard and netted the opening goal with
the aid of a deflection off Gareth McAuley.
It was 2-0 10 minutes later when Pedro turned
provider as his side broke from a West Brom
corner.
He collected a pass from Willian and tried a cross-
shot, which was turned in from close range by
Costa.
TERRY GETS MARCHING ORDERAlbion were back in the game within five minutes
when Morrison made up for his earlier miss with a
fine, low finish.
He scored from 15 yards after record signing
Salomon Rondon, making his full debut, did well to
help a cross by James McClean into Morrison's
path.
Willian should have made it 3-1 on 39 minutes, but
he was guilty of a glaring miss as he fired wide
from a pull-back by Pedro.
However, Chelsea's third goal arrived three
minutes before halftime from the unlikely figure of
full-back Azpilicueta.
He finished well after Costa had held off a robust
challenge from McAuley to control a pass from
Cesc Fabregas and tee up his Spain teammate.
Terry was given his marching orders nine minutes
into the second half when he was judged to have
pulled Rondon back as the Venezuelan raced onto
a fine through-ball by Morrison.
Five minutes later the hosts reduced the arrears
again with Morrison claiming his second goal of
the game.
He produced a deft header to divert a cross by
Callum McManaman past Courtois and into the
top-right corner.
Rondon dragged a shot just wide for West Brom
from the edge of the area after a corner and
McManaman looked capable of levelling when his
clever footwork engineered a shooting chance, but
he bent his effort just wide.
Costa sent a shot over the crossbar with his final
touch before being substituted following a clever
Chelsea move.
And his replacement, Radamel Falcao, missed the
target by a long way with his first touch after being
set up by Pedro.
Late on Chelsea hit West Brom on the counter-
attack and Hazard fired just wide and then Brunt
blasted just over for the hosts.
In stoppage time, Rondon had a scrambled effort
blocked by Courtois.
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