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Chelsea went back to the top of the English Premier League table on Saturday evening after defeating bottom of the table team West Bromwich Albion 3-0 away. Chelsea's Portuguese full-back Jose Bosingwa opened the scoring in the 34th minute, before Nicolas Anelka wrapped up the points for the visitors with 2 goals before the interval. West Bromwich had begun the game in positive fashion, with James Morrison and Ishmael Miller both went close to open the scoring. However, Jose Bosingwa forced the breakthrough in the 34th minute when his speculative drive from 25 yards evaded the clutches of Scott Carson and nestled into West Brom's top corner. Chelsea was now rampant and further extended their advantage four minutes later when Nicolas Anelka raced clear to finish with style and confidence. The Frenchman, who currently tops the Premier League scoring charts, then claimed his second goal of the game in the first half injury-time when he coolly beat Carson at his near post.

Chelsea had numerous opportunities to stretch their lead in the second half of the game but, with the result already beyond doubt, they were ultimately let down by some errant finishing. West Bromwich showed plenty of promise in the opening half hour and knocked the ball around in the style as demanded by their manager Tony Mowbray. The first decent chance of the game even fell to West Brom after a powerful 50-yard run by Borja Valero. He reached the edge of the box before picking out the run of Miller but the former Manchester City striker dragged his shot across the face of Chelsea's goal. Chelsea then started to find more space near West Brom's goal and the home side were indebted to Scott Carson for keeping them on level terms. Florent Malouda's first time ball was perfectly weighted for the run of Frank Lampard into the inside left channel and his powerful drive was beat out by the England goalkeeper. Carson was tested for the second time in turning away a swerving drive from Malouda after he had advanced towards the box unchallenged. However, the game started to change when on the 34th minute, an out of nothing superb strike from Jose Bosingwa gave Chelsea the lead. There appeared to be little danger, but Bosingwa suddenly unleashed a powerful left-footed drive from 30 yards out which Carson got a hand to but could not prevent from crossing the line.

The goal stunned West Brom and it needed a fine tackle from Jonas Olsson to deny Malouda as he lined up a shot inside the area. Nicholas Anelka doubled Chelsea's lead on the 38th minute, seizing Malouda's headed pass and racing into the area to beat an exposed Carson. Chelsea now threatened every time they ventured forward and in the first-half injury-time, Anelka struck again, this time beating Carson from a narrow angle with Saloman Kalou the provider. The Blues were soon back on the offensive after the interval and Carson managed to block an effort from a narrow angle by Malouda. Anelka had the chance to go for his hat-trick when in space 15 yards out, but he unselfishly attempted to tee up Deco, who was denied by a last-gasp tackle from Paul Robinson. Chelsea players were now queuing up to take shots at goal and Abdoulaye Meite threw himself in front of a shot from Anelka. Filipe Teixeira almost made an immediate impact after coming on as a substitute for West Brom, but the Portuguese playmaker's late curling shot was inches too high from Chelsea's goal.

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