Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink was still without injured playmaker Eden Hazard, with the Dutchman making three changes from the side that beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League last time out.
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It was Kenedy, though, who vindicated his introduction by pressurising Gareth McAuley and forcing the West Brom defender into a challenge that resulted in an own goal.
It was a substitution that seemed to send a surge of extra energy through Chelsea and, with Kenedy racing forward, there was controversy after Claudio Yacob tripped Costa off the ball to provoke further outrage from the Chelsea forward.
Chelsea, however, were also guilty of surrounding the referee when Yacob stumbled into Costa in the second half and the striker apparently punched a hole in the tunnel wall after the final whistle.
“We can always fix the tunnel!”
Hiddink’s admission that he considers the blooding of young players to be part of his remit for the remainder of the season does not sound particularly promising for the big-money signing who turns 30 in 18 months’ time.
“If you have to push your players (to get angry) it’s hard to survive in the Premier League”.
After beating City 2-1 in the first leg of the aforementioned semi earlier in January, the Toffees again faced Manuel Pellegrini’s side last night, holding them to a somewhat fortunate goalless draw. “From there on we could have dominated a bit more”.
After their Boxing Day defeat by Swansea, West Brom were just three points from the relegation places, but home wins against Stoke and Newcastle followed by this point at Stamford Bridge have improved that cushion.
“I think that’s the aim”.
“We’re very disappointed. It was a game we wanted to win”.
West Brom manager Tony Pulis was relieved to finally break his duck at Stamford Bridge, claiming his first point at Chelsea in seven league visits.
“But he is very cool and if he doesn’t score one game, then the next game he is taking the chances and that’s what makes him a good player”.
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“He has been on the (training) pitch working and I hope and think that he, in the upcoming week, will have full training sessions and then we’ll decide whether he can join us for the Arsenal game next weekend”. The former Russian Federation national team coach, however, made it clear that the youth team players must prove their credentials to get promoted to the senior setup.
