Costa makes it nine wins in a row for Chelsea

Chelsea 1 West Brom 0

Diego Costa struck 14 minutes from time to clinch a ninth consecutive Premier League win for Chelsea.

West Brom defended superbly until Costa nudged Gareth McAuley off the ball on the right-hand side and then fired into the top corner.

It was the striker’s 12th goal of the season and took Chelsea back to the top of the table, three points clear of Arsenal.

Albion were well organised and posed a threat themselves, particularly in the first half.

They went close when Chris Brunt fired wide from 30 yards after evading two challenges.

There was another scare for the home side when Salomon Rondon shot wide after getting the better of David Luiz, whose free-kick five minutes before the break forced Albion keeper Ben Foster’s first save of the match.

With his team still struggling to create chances in the second half, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte sent on Willian and then Cesc Fabregas in an attempt to break the deadlock.

And when Fabregas sent a hopeful ball forward, Costa’s relentlessness conjured up a goal out of nothing.

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Fabregas 73), Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Willian 63), Costa, Hazard (Ivanovic 78).
Subs not used: Begovic, Aina, Chalobah, Batshuayi.