Chelsea could win the Premier League title at West Bromwich Albion on Friday night.
West Bromwich Albion welcome Chelsea to the Hawthorns on Friday night, with the visitors in search of three points to wrap up their fifth Premier League title.
As West Brom sit comfy in the top half of the table and Chelsea continue their flying form, many will see this meeting as a nailed on victory for Antonio Conte’s men – it may well be. But recent history shows the Baggies – and Tony Pulis – have taken pleasure from being the Premier League’s party poopers.
In 2013, Manchester United arrived in the West Midlands looking to give legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson the perfect send-off. Despite going three goals behind, Albion fought back twice to secure a 5-5 draw and deny Sir Alex victory on his way out. West Brom had on-loan Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku to thank for his second-half hat-trick.
Jose Mourinho’s newly-crowned Chelsea side also suffered defeat at the Hawthorns in 2015. Cesc Fabregas saw red for the visitors before goals from Saido Berahino and Chris Brunt sealed a 3-0 victory for the Baggies. The result was only Chelsea’s third league defeat of the season and ended a 16-game unbeaten run.
Last season, West Brom’s form tailed off in a similar post-40 point fashion as their current campaign. That did not stop the Baggies, who had already held Claudio Ranieri’s fairytale Foxes to a draw at the King Power Stadium, from halting Tottenham Hotspur’s late title push.
After upsetting Spurs’ rhythm and getting under the skin of star man Dele Alli, Albion grabbed a late equaliser through defender Craig Dawson. In the end, Pulis’ side were unlucky not to take all three points against their deflated opposition.
Although he is making a habit of it at West Brom, Tony Pulis has long been spoiling big club’s parties before he rocked up at the Hawthorns.
In 2011, his Stoke City team effectively ended the title aspirations of Chelsea and Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium. Three years later, his resurgent Crystal Palace side famously fought back from three goals behind to extinguish Liverpool’s title dream.
If history is anything to go by, Conte and Chelsea should be wary heading to the Hawthorns on Friday night. West Brom and Pulis will be determined to hold off Chelsea’s title celebrations for another day.
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