Chelsea 2 West Brom 0: IF ONLY every home game could be as straightforward as this for Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The Chelsea manager may find the concept of football on St Stephen's Day strange, but his players were never in danger of seeing their struggles at Stamford Bridge continue as they took a nonchalant step towards an upturn in form.
West Bromwich Albion contributed next to nothing to a one-sided encounter. Tony Mowbray started with the strikers Roman Bednar and Luke Moore on the substitutes' bench, having made Sunday's home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur his priority.
Chelsea were able to enjoy their first Premier League victory in front of their fans since thrashing Sunderland 5-0 on November 1st. When Michael Ballack tangled with Chris Brunt with 15 minutes left and raised his hands to risk a red card rather than the yellow that he got, it was tempting to wonder whether the Chelsea midfielder was simply bored and keen to add a bit of spice.
It would certainly have been one of the most needless dismissals in recent memory, although Mowbray did argue afterwards that the letter of the law ought to have been applied.
"I would never call for any player to be sent off. Ballack is a world class player, a great player, I don't know what irritated him enough to slap my player in the face but it might have helped us if we had played against 10 men for however long was left.
"It's a bit confusing because Ballack did lift his arm and slap Chris in the face," Mowbray said. "If Rob Styles (the referee) does not think a slap in the face is worthy of a red card then it's up to him."
Scolari had started with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the same line-up for the first time since he took over and the Brazilian was smiling broadly after the first three minutes of the match when Drogba headed his team in front, scoring his first league goal since March.
There seemed to be little immediate danger when Joe Cole put over a cross from the right, but the Ivorian leapt above Gianni Zuiverloon, whose lack of a challenge was galling, to plant the ball firmly beyond Scott Carson.
The only thing that might have vexed Scolari was that Drogba's return marginalised Anelka, his 16-goal leading scorer. Although Scolari attempted to incorporate both of the strikers he did not tinker with the formation and, as a result, Anelka was pressed out to the left wing, where he merely flickered.
"It was a (front) three, with Joe Cole as well, so it was not necessarily Didier and Nicolas playing together," Ray Wilkins, the assistant manager, said, while Scolari took another break from media duties.
"But their movement was excellent. That's why we caused West Brom so many problems. We were always going to create chances."
Chelsea ought to have been out of sight by the interval. Frank Lampard, a snapshot in latent menace, repeatedly broke at pace and the only surprise was that he had to wait until injury-time to score his ninth of the season.
He had snatched at three earlier shooting opportunities, yet his deft finish, after Ashley Cole had burst on to Joe Cole's pass and seen the ball break off Zuiverloon, was of the highest order.
Ashley Cole had earlier been denied by a combination of Carson's fingertips and the near post after more slick work from the impressive Joe Cole.
West Brom lost Abdoulaye Meite in the first half to a hamstring strain and some of their other defenders risked similar injuries as they stretched every sinew to make vital interceptions.
Mowbray's team were also indebted to Carson's handling as Chelsea made him work from distance.
"We had half an eye on Sunday," Mowbray said. "In our predicament we have to target certain games. We've got Chelsea away and Tottenham at home and we have to ask, 'Which have we got the best chance of picking up points in?' "
Chelsea, who monopolised the possession and the territorial advantage, sprang forward at will and the mood was encapsulated by the substitute Juliano Belletti. He found himself played through the right-hand channel by Drogba in the 52nd minute and, as the crowd bellowed for him to shoot, he attempted an audacious chip from the edge of the area, but got it horribly wrong.
Nobody thought for a second that it would prove costly.
The best chances of the second half fell to Lampard and Drogba - Carson stood tall to block on both occasions - and while Ballack's slap briefly threatened to seize the headlines this was not a day for the sensational.
"We are delighted to have Didier back," said coach Ray Wilkins. "It is always nice to score early on and it was a classic centre-forward's goal - a powerful header.
"We took him off in the second half because he got a kick on the thigh. He is an exceptional centre forward and we are thrilled when anybody gets back to full fitness.
"But the squad is getting better with everybody almost fit now. Ricardo Carvalho will probably be back for the FA Cup match against Southend, so we are getting there.
"It is always a delight for any manager when he has a fully fit squad to choose from."
It was the club's first win in four league games at home but Wilkins denied it was a relief to finally get back to winning ways.
"I would not say it is a relief," he added. "We have to give some credit to the opposition, especially West Ham and Newcastle, who both had a game plan and took points off us. Teams are not going to lie down and let us knock in two or three goals."
Mowbray was frustrated at the timing of Chelsea's goals.
"We did try and frustrate Chelsea but to concede such an elementary goal so early was a blow for us.
"Going in at half-time 1-0 down would not have been the end of the world, but to concede another in the 47th minute was very disappointing."
• Guardian Service
