Do not adjust your TV (or phone screen for your young kids): West Bromwich Albion have scored five against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues must have thought that they would be relieved back in the Premier League rigmarole nice and careful with the visit of the second worst team in the top flight, and cement their place in the top four in the process.
In fact, the vibes before the match all spoke to a reindeer limping in offset.
Chelsea 27 West Brom 0
– Mark Worrall (@ gate17marco) April 3, 2021
Stop, just win. Even if it’s just 5-0
-. (@TacticalChels_) April 3, 2021
4-0 !!! pic.twitter.com/10bzyKw5T5
– PDBlue10 (@ PDBlues22) April 3, 2021
And the early signs, even with the recurring and somewhat shaky Thiago Silva, were that Thomas Tuchel would rush home with three points.
Just 27 minutes into the match, Christian Pulisic broke the deadlock and threw his first goal of the Tuchel era.
He’s back … Captain America is back ?? pic.twitter.com/J62k93n7WF
– Somesh Shanker Ganes (@ Somesh_2301) April 3, 2021
The fun and the game lasted less than two minutes, while the aforementioned Silva dipped into his endless bag of experience and knowledge, completely ignored what he pulled out and committed a stupid challenge to earn a second yellow card.
You had never guessed that Thiago Silva, one of the best midfielders of his generation, would discover that West Brom would be his bogey club.
– Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) April 3, 2021
This is Thiago Silva’s first red card since May 2013. #CFC #CHEWBA
– Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) April 3, 2021
Thiago Silva today? pic.twitter.com/9xqBbXEUJo
-? (@oriiiiigi) April 3, 2021
Branislav Ivanovic also returned to Stamford Bridge after a successful nine years with the Blues, but his afternoon lasted 13 minutes as the replacement had to be subbed by an injury.
Thiago Silva and Ivanovic’s games were summarized. pic.twitter.com/T4m1iosa9V
– Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 3, 2021
Inevitably, Chelsea collapsed with just ten men and let in twice during the injury in the first half to somehow enter the locker rooms behind.
Chelsea had not conceded at home in three months. West Brom had not scored since mid-February. Transferred to double Chelsea defense in my fpl team. Break result: Chelsea 1-2 West Brom # fpl pic.twitter.com/hM9wszDEpK
– Jazzy (@jazzy_utd) April 3, 2021
No one can break the Chelsea defense
Thiago Silva: pic.twitter.com/eVAi4rWfrp
– Onye Nri #BBNaija (@Atuadi_Smart) April 3, 2021
Tuchel decided he had to replace him at halftime, took off goal scorer Pulisic and took on the fans’ favorite Mason Mount. Despite his goals, some of you were not so convinced that the American is back and shooting at his best.
Pulisic at Dortmund / Pulisic at Chelsea pic.twitter.com/vHLgFXZ0om
– MP (@ MFP_37) April 3, 2021
Will Pulisic be connected to the Big Sam test in 45 minutes? pic.twitter.com/AjlzVEvFD6
– LeftWingPat #AFC (@LW_Arsenal) April 3, 2021
Of course, not everyone fully agreed with Tuchel’s decision.
Pulisic has 2 G / A on 2 starts at LW under Tuchel ..
Subbed off on HT after scoring a goal instead of Werner .. pic.twitter.com/KC13Ay4nSv
-? (@ChelseaMCMV) April 3, 2021
Half full Chelsea supporters took a lot of comfort from Pulisic’s return to the points side – maybe a little too much comfort – as in, they did not give two drops that they were completely glued by some real plodding.
Three points dropped but Pulisic on the points page pic.twitter.com/Pir58MG8Ey
– Pulisic_10 (@CFCstk) April 3, 2021
I care about Pulisic. I do not care about Chelsea except that.
Do you see that Pulisic is unfairly withdrawn after scoring a goal and then Chelsea GOES ON by the team at the bottom of the table?
I will take it.
– Ellston Logan (@EllstonLogan) April 3, 2021
I think that guy has forgotten that Chelsea lost with Pulisic also on the pitch …
So, 2-1 down at halftime, it was time for the Blues to come out and blow away the Baggies. Instead, they tore twice the Big Sam’s boys, as West Brom was temporarily transformed into western Brazil.
West Brom vs. Chelsea today pic.twitter.com/OGFvOXsc7G
– FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) April 3, 2021
Coming back to twitter after a 2 hour gym session to see West Brom have done 4 past my double Chelsea defense pic.twitter.com/ZztBf2vxka
– Vestman (@vestmanFPL) April 3, 2021
chelsea 1-4 west brom 67th minute
“It’s a Big Battle Tuchelsea” pic.twitter.com/AjvdhRZC2e
– incredible dey oro? (@_____sterling) April 3, 2021
Pride over Stamford Bridge Mount drew one back, although many questioned Timo Werner’s decision not to shoot with the goal gaping (after seeing his miss for Germany in the middle of the week, he probably made the right choice).
Thomas Tuchel tries to get Timo Werner to score pic.twitter.com/L7QjgqRoVQ
– Jasper? (@ftblJasper) April 3, 2021
Timo Werner did not score from here ??? pic.twitter.com/10ourMXWBL
– Andrew ʷ (@delstroyer_) April 3, 2021
Timo werner passed to Mount because he knew he could not score. pic.twitter.com/zt1eRAlc5k
– Billy ?? (@ Utd_billy2) April 3, 2021
And then, just to rub it in, Robinson made a fifth of the injury time to sentence Chelsea to a humiliating 5-2 defeat.
#CHEWBA Chelsea did not give in last month and made Thomas Tuchel the manager of the month. Westbrom Team: pic.twitter.com/86uZaEWQhv
– praise ?? the dream boy (@impeccablelaud) April 3, 2021
Chelsea defense pic.twitter.com/NE3aqJ1oNf
– supermane10 (@supermanelfc) April 3, 2021
Let’s face it, we always knew Big Sam was going to have the last laugh.
Goals conceded by Chelsea in Thomas Tuchel’s first 14 matches as manager: 2
Goals conceded by Chelsea in 90 minutes against Sam Allardyce’s West Brom: 5 pic.twitter.com/QWYXePFGAm
– HLTCO (@HLTCO) April 3, 2021
Never write about him.
