Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa have spoken about the importance of yesterday’s win over West Brom in a match that seemed to end as a stalemate as Tony Puli’s side defended for spells.
The Blues recorded a ninth straight Premier League victory but it was far from plain sailing, with chances at a premium as the visitors kept large numbers behind the ball when we were in possession.
The eventual breakthrough came in the 76th-minute when Fabregas, on as a substitute only two minutes earlier, hooked a ball forward and Diego Costa displayed brilliant strength to out-muscle Gareth McAuley, before bending a wonderful left-footed strike into the top corner.
‘It was vital,’ said Fabregas. ‘We’ve been training all week on the mental aspect, especially for games like this. I don’t think we’ve faced enough teams like this recently, they have a very deep block and we knew it would be difficult to create chances.
‘They had a plan and they played it very well, but thanks to Diego once again we have three points, it’s fantastic.’
Chelsea official website reported that, Diego Cost picked up November’s Premier League Player of the Month award on Friday and he produced another fine striker’s display against the Baggies, making the difference when it really mattered.
It was his 12th goal of the season, but he praised his team-mates for the way in which we’ve been defending of late.
‘I’m in great form but it’s not the best I’ve ever played,’ he said. ‘The best way to attack is to defend well first and we are doing it at the minute.
‘They had a few chances at the start of the game but that was it. The team are very compact and well organised so that makes it easier when we attack.’
While it was Fabregas’s initial pass which led to Diegi Costa’s goal, just like our equaliser at Manchester City last Saturday, the midfielder says this time all the credit must go to his team-mate.
‘There is something that every pass I make he turns it into something special,’ he said.
‘It will probably count as an assist but it was all him. The football wasn’t the best but we knew we had to go in behind and push them lower and lower with good pressure.’
Meanwhile the Chelsea Football Club was saddened by the passing away of Peter Brad rook at 79.
He has a special place in Chelsea history as the youngest to play a part in our historic league championship win of 1954/55, and he built upon that early taste of triumph to become a mainstay of the side for the next seven seasons.
Peter Brabrook (front), with Peter Sillett & Johnny Brooks
The 15-year-old Brabrook joined Chelsea as an apprentice in 1953 and in a whirlwind few months in 1954/55 he was capped by England Youth, he became a professional at Chelsea and he made his first team debut.
He was one of the first from the Chelsea Juniors system started by previous manager Billy Birrell to become a first team fixture. He scored his first goal in his first appearance the following season, away at Blackpool, and when he was switched from an inside-forward to a right winger in place of injured Eric Parsons, he truly became established
In later years, Brabrook was a scout for the Hammers but he was a regular attendee at Chelsea functions including the Annual Lunch, and it was with us where it all began and he played the most.
He made 271 Chelsea appearances and scored 57 goals.
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