West Brom vs Chelsea: Seven key points for the game at The Hawthorns

Mourinho has confirmed that youngster Isaiah Brown will make his debut for the club tonight

Jose Mourinho reacts on the touchline (Getty Images)

NO HAPPY HUNTING GROUND

Chelsea have already wrapped up this season’s Premier League title, and that will be a relief ahead of tonight’s match – after all, recent history shows that this is a location they tend to struggle at. In their last three matches at The Hawthorns, Mourinho’s men have picked up only one point, with their last victory coming way back in April 2011.

ISAIAH BROWN

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that youngster Isaiah Brown will make his debut for the club tonight – but he’s already well-known to Baggies fans. The 18-year-old joined West Brom as a schoolboy, and was first named on the bench in March 2013 – against Chelsea. At the end of that season, The Blues made their move and Brown’s move to Stamford Bridge led to West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace threatening to scrap his club’s academy system as they had lost one of their brightest prospects for a nominal fee.

FAB’S LIFE

Midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas has made more league assists this season – 18 – than the three leading West Brom assist makers – Chris Brunt (9), Craig Gardner (3) and Stéphane Sessègnon (3) combined. The summer signing from Barcelona needs three more assists in his final two games to beat Thierry Henry’s Premier League record of 20, set in the 2002/03 season.

MAN OF PEACE

Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace has been at the helm since June 2002 – but having now put the club up for sale, this could be his final home game. Tony Pulis recently waxed lyrical about his impact, but knows that a win tonight would be the perfect send-off for his boss.

KEEPING IT CLEAN

Only Chelsea have kept more clean sheets in the top-flight this season than West Brom – 17 and 15 respectively – so despite the odds pointing to Mourinho’s charges romping to another three points, Tony Pulis has been able to rely on his defence to claim key points thus far.

TAKE IT AWAY

The Blues have found the back of the net 37 times away from home so far this season, level with their Premier League record initially set in the 2004/05 season. To beat their best ever away goals haul – set in their 1964/65 First Division campaign – Costa and Co will need to find another five goals over the course of tonight’s game and Sunday’s clash against Sunderland.

LIGHTNING QUICK START

Chelsea have scored as many goals in the first quarter of an hour of matches this campaign (15) as West Brom have netted in the entire first half. When the sides met in the reverse fixture in November, Diego Costa opened the scoring after 11 minutes to help Chelsea on their way to a 2-0 win.