Premier League: Chelsea 2 West Brom 1

Goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda helped Chelsea fight back to score 2-1 win at home against West Brom on Saturday.

New manager Andre Villas-Boas enjoyed his first win as Chelsea boss, but not before the Baggies gave the home side an almighty scare after taking the lead inside five minutes through Shane Long.

But Chelsea recovered in the second half and goals from Anelka and substitute Malouda earend them the three points.

The visiting fans may have travelled to west London fearing a repeat of last season’s 6-0 mauling at Stamford Bridge, but it immediately became apparent that this would be a completely different game.

Hodgson’s men began in confident mood and their positive approach yielded immediate dividends.

Long picked the pocket of Alex just over the halfway line after a lazy pass by Ramires, shook off the defender’s desperate attempts to recover as he raced through on goal, and coolly slotted home past a helpless Hilario to give his side the lead with just four minutes on the clock.

The early goal rattled Chelsea, but failed to shake them from their slumber and it was West Brom who looked likeliest to score next, with the classy Chris Brunt at the centre of much of their attacking threat.

Hodgson’s men should have gone 2-0 up when Brunt looped a sublime ball over the head of John Terry and both Long and Somen Tchoyi broke a woeful Chelsea offside trap.

But the former Reading striker’s attempted cross was too firm and denied Tchoyi what would have been a simple tap-in.

Villas-Boas, visibly dismayed at his team’s performance, replaced the anonymous Kalou in favour of Florent Malouda to try and inject some urgency in his team’s play, and the Blues responded with their first period of sustained pressure as the half drew to a close.

The visitors continued to pose a threat early in the second half until Chelsea equalised against the run of play.

Having again being denied a penalty when Lampard fell under pressure from Jonas Olsson, the ball broke to Anelka, whose low shot deflected off the Swede’s leg and rippled the net just inside the near post.

Despite the barrage from Chelsea in the final half hour, it looked like the Baggies would hold on for a point.

With seven minutes remaining, however, Chelsea at last broke their opponents’ resistance as Bosingwa jinked between two West Brom defenders and found Malouda at the back post, who duly fired home to ensure the victory.