There was a smattering of homemade cardboard placards, and even one banner that looked as if it had been professionally produced, to accompany the usual choruses of disdain directed at the dugout. And yet, at the final whistle, Rafael Benítez could reflect with relative satisfaction upon an afternoon that had initially felt destined to be fraught.
Chelsea had eased beyond West Bromwich Albion, who have made a habit of guillotining the west London club's managers in recent times, and the interim's team are restored to third place, if potentially only for 24 hours. As at Middlesbrough in midweek the most vociferous chants – the bellowed command to "stand up if you hate Rafa", or the reminders that "we know what you are, interim manager, we know what you are" – were reserved for the latter stages. But, while he will still be simmering at the indignity, the Spaniard might grudgingly put up with such abuse if it does not disrupt his side's progress.
They had benefited from West Brom's lack of ambition, any nervousness that might have gripped the home side early on eased by opponents sitting deep and rarely encroaching themselves into enemy territory. It was only during the last 10 minutes that the visitors really threatened to wound the European champions, Petr Cech turning over a Peter Odemwingie free-kick and then reacting smartly to push away César Azpilicueta's inadvertent flick from the resultant corner. Yet those felt like isolated ripostes amid Chelsea possession. The scoreline hardly reflected their superiority.
The hosts' attacking trio of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and, in particular, Oscar dazzled in spells, the young Brazilian's touch a delight as he maintained his impressive recent form. He might have scored in the opening attack of the contest, Ben Foster pushing away a shot from point-blank range with the goalkeeper, now available again for England and watched here by Roy Hodgson, later well positioned to gather Oscar's close-range header. Foster's shot-stopping would catch the eye all afternoon.
Yet he was partly at fault for the goal that confirmed Chelsea's dominance. Frank Lampard and Oscar exchanged passes at a corner played short just before the half-hour mark, the Brazilian swinging over a centre to the far post which Foster misjudged for David Luiz to nod back across goal. Demba Ba side-footed into the unguarded net to register a first goal since mid-January and Chelsea had their lead.
The goal should have provoked further rewards, but Jonas Olsson and Liam Ridgewell blocked from Oscar and Azpilicueta, and Mata's radar was slightly skew-whiff when he glimpsed a sight of goal. Foster's denial of Oscar's volley 12 minutes from time was outstanding as Chelsea so craved their breathing space. That would not come, and there were those flurries of anxiety as the end approached but, from the sentiment of the crowd to the hosts' victory, this actually all ended up feeling rather routine.
Read more... Chelsea 1-0 West Bromwich Albion | Premier League match report
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