John
Terry was sent off as Pedro inspired Chelsea to a first Premier League win of
the season at West Brom.
Thibaut
Courtois saved James Morrison’s early penalty but Pedro, who signed from
Barcelona for £21m this week, fired in before setting up Diego Costa.
Morrison
then atoned for his earlier error with a crisp strike before Cesar Azpilicueta
made it 3-1.
Terry
saw red for a second-half foul on Salomon Rondon but Morrison’s header was not
enough as Chelsea hung on.
The
result ended a poor start to the season for Chelsea, who have raised as many
talking points off the field as on it following controversy surrounding the
treatment of their medical staff and Terry’s half-time substitution in the 3-0
loss at Manchester City last Sunday.
And
in another eventful game for the champions, Jose Mourinho’s side will face
further questions as Terry’s dismissal gave West Brom a huge lift following a
first half where Tony Pulis’s team were outclassed at times.
Unlike
their previous two games, though, Pedro provided them with enough inspiration
to build the foundations for an edgy win.
After
beating Manchester United to sign three-time Champions League winner Pedro,
Chelsea benefitted from the 28-year-old’s pace and incisiveness as the club’s
Spanish international contingent scored three times before the break.
Mourinho
had criticised some of his players after earning only a point in their first
two games, but Pedro gave their attacking an extra thrust, particularly on the
counter attack.
Having
already played alongside Cesc Fabregas while at Barcelona, the new recruit was
heavily involved from the start, also linking well with Eden Hazard, who had
his best game of the season so far after often coming inside to join-up with
play.
It
was from that combination that Pedro grabbed the opener, while his quick
thinking was evident as he set up Costa from the second, the attack stemming
from a West Brom corner.
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