bad_meetz_evil
03-05-2006, 05:10 PM
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Arjen Robben was sent off but goals from Didier Drogba and Joe Cole gave Premier League leaders Chelsea a 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion in a bad-tempered clash on Saturday.
Drogba punished some half-hearted defending shortly after halftime to drill a low shot past Tomasz Kuszczak and Cole added a close-range effort 10 minutes after replacing Damien Duff.
Nwankwo Kanu headed West Brom a lifeline with three minutes remaining.
Chelsea's 10 men hung on to move 17 points clear at the top of the English Premier League.
Chelsea winger Robben was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Jonathan Greening -- a decision met with sarcastic applause towards referee Mark Halsey by Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, in charge of the side for the 100th time.
"It should have been a yellow card not a red, I didn't think it was two-footed," Chelsea captain John Terry told Sky Sports.
The England defender also explained the late appearance of Chelsea's players for the start of the second half, an incident that provoked the first of several slanging matches between Mourinho and West Brom manager Bryan Robson.
"We got a bit of a telling off at half-time," Terry said. "We got a bit of a kick up the backside."
Mourinho also exchanged angry words with Robson after Drogba made a meal of challenge by Greening and the two managers did not shake hands at the final whistle.
"Drogba just dives about all the time, he tried to get Jonathan Greening sent off. My player never touched him and yet he's rolling about feigning injury," said Robson.
Cole, who set up one goal and scored the other in England's 2-1 friendly win over Uruguay on Wednesday, went on as a substitute for Duff after Robben was sent off.
Mourinho celebrated Cole's goal by pumping his fists and running down the sideline into West Brom's technical area.
Security guards escorted Mourinho back to his bench, while West Brom manager Robson looked on in fury.
Earlier, Robson was seen arguing with Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke.
Drogba punished some half-hearted defending shortly after halftime to drill a low shot past Tomasz Kuszczak and Cole added a close-range effort 10 minutes after replacing Damien Duff.
Nwankwo Kanu headed West Brom a lifeline with three minutes remaining.
Chelsea's 10 men hung on to move 17 points clear at the top of the English Premier League.
Chelsea winger Robben was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Jonathan Greening -- a decision met with sarcastic applause towards referee Mark Halsey by Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, in charge of the side for the 100th time.
"It should have been a yellow card not a red, I didn't think it was two-footed," Chelsea captain John Terry told Sky Sports.
The England defender also explained the late appearance of Chelsea's players for the start of the second half, an incident that provoked the first of several slanging matches between Mourinho and West Brom manager Bryan Robson.
"We got a bit of a telling off at half-time," Terry said. "We got a bit of a kick up the backside."
Mourinho also exchanged angry words with Robson after Drogba made a meal of challenge by Greening and the two managers did not shake hands at the final whistle.
"Drogba just dives about all the time, he tried to get Jonathan Greening sent off. My player never touched him and yet he's rolling about feigning injury," said Robson.
Cole, who set up one goal and scored the other in England's 2-1 friendly win over Uruguay on Wednesday, went on as a substitute for Duff after Robben was sent off.
Mourinho celebrated Cole's goal by pumping his fists and running down the sideline into West Brom's technical area.
Security guards escorted Mourinho back to his bench, while West Brom manager Robson looked on in fury.
Earlier, Robson was seen arguing with Chelsea assistant manager Steve Clarke.