Batshuayi clinches the title for Chelsea

West Brom 0 Chelsea 1

Michy Batshuayi’s late goal clinched the Premier League title for Chelsea.

The Belgian striker, on as a substitute and having previously failed to make an impact since being signed last summer, netted with eight minutes remaining at The Hawthorns.

Cesar Azpilicueta chased Gary Cahill’s wayward shot and pulled the back from the right for Batshuayi to score from close range.

It sealed the title in Antonio Conte’s first season as Blues boss – and came seven minutes after the Italian responded to a spell of West Bromwich Albion pressure by sending on Batshuayi as part of a double substitution.

After Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois was called into action in the opening couple of minutes, pushing over Salomon Rondon’s looping header, Conte’s side dominated for long spells.

Pedro was unable to take a decent early chance to put them ahead after being set up by Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas played a sublime ball over the top and Pedro attempted to lob keeper Ben Foster but sliced his tricky first-time effort wide of the target.

Pedro also went close when his low shot from near the edge of the penalty area deflected off Albion defender Jonny Evans and drifted narrowly wide, before Foster gathered an effort from Azpilicueta.

As Chelsea continued to press, Fabregas fired wide after being found by Eden Hazard, as did Pedro after receiving Victor Moses’ pass.

And a couple of minutes before half-time, a patient Chelsea move culminated in Diego Costa shooting over after getting away from Gareth McAuley.

The visitors were even more dominant in the early stages of the second half.

Moses’ low shot was tipped away by Foster, who also saved from Costa, Fabregas sent a shot wide and Craig Dawson almost turned Hazard’s low cross into his own net.

Just as Chelsea appeared to be in control, they survived two scares in quick succession as Albion enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Rondon raced towards goal after turning away from David Luiz and blasted wide under pressure from Azpilicueta, before Nacer Chadli also wasted a great chance, dragging a shot wide from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

With his team suddenly under pressure, Conte took off Pedro and the unusually ineffective Hazard, bringing on Batshuayi and Willian.

It was a bold decision – and it paid off spectacularly.