The Dugout Discussion – West Brom vs Chelsea

Champions Chelsea roll up to West Brom in this evening’s 8pm encounter as Jose Mourinho’s side look to continue a run which has seen them drop just two points in their previous seven road trips.

The main worry heading into this one was, of course, the extent of Mourinho’s rotation. Despite suggesting he was set to start a number of youngsters, the Chelsea manager keeps faith in his big-hitters for the Hawthorns, with Diego Costa returning to lead the line and the likes of Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic all named in the XI. In total, Mourinho makes three changes from the Liverpool match, then, with Costa, Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill replacing Willian, John Obi Mikel and Kurt Zouma.

With a single goal conceded in their last four, though, the Baggies’ return to resilient ways has been key to clinching their top-flight survival for another season. Tony Pulis also makes three alterations to his starting XI, as James Morrison, Callum McManaman and Saido Berahino come in for Youssuf Mulumbu, Craig Gardner and Victor Anichebe.