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Callum Robinson of West Bromwich Albion (Getty)
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel suffered the first defeat of his reign when West Bromwich Albion took advantage of Thiago Silva’s red card for an impressive 5-2 victory on Saturday.
Tuchel had overseen a 14-game unbeaten streak in all competitions since he replaced the fired Frank Lampard in January.
But that impressive start came to an embarrassing end when West Brom rampaged at Stamford Bridge.
Christian Pulisic put Chelsea ahead early in the first half, only for Brazilian defender Thiago to receive his marching orders moments later for a second caution.
That was the turning point when Albion’s Matheus Pereira scored twice in first-half injury time.
Mbaye Diagne scored West Brom’s third goal and Callum Robinson scored twice to leave Tuchel in shock.
Mason Mount’s response was no consolation, as Chelsea’s attempt to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four result in the Premier League took a significant hit.
The Blues, defeated for the first time in 10 league games, remain fourth for now, but both West Ham and Tottenham would surpass them if they win on Monday and Sunday respectively.
After conceding just two goals in Tuchel’s reign, with seven clean sheets in a row since the defense was last violated at Southampton in February, this was a rude awakening for Chelsea.
For the first time since 2011 against Arsenal, Chelsea conceded five goals at home in the league.
It was the worst possible preparation for the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Porto on Wednesday.
West Brom is still second bottom, but their first league win at Chelsea since 1978 gives them a glimmer of hope in the fight to avoid relegation.
Sam Allardyce’s team is seven points from safety with eight games to play.
Thiago was making his first start at Chelsea since February 4 after recovering from a thigh problem, but was completely out of touch upon his return.
The first signs were dire when a misguided pass from Jorginho was intercepted by Pereira on the edge of Chelsea’s penalty area, forcing Thiago to commit a cynical foul that earned him a yellow card.
Despite their sloppy start, Tuchel’s men took the lead in the 27th minute.
Marcos Alonso’s 25-yard free kick bounced off the post and Pulisic was the first to react when, alert, he directed his shot past Sam Johnstone from close range.
But Thiago gave Albion a lifeline two minutes later when he jumped two feet from Okay Yokuslu.
The 36-year-old could have no complaints about his first dismissal since seeing red while playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
In keeping with their erratic display, Chelsea were punished for lousy defense in injury time in the first half.
A long forward punt from Johnstone should have been handled easily, but Kurt Zouma allowed Pereira to run behind him and guide a superb balloon over the exposed Edouard Mendy.
Suddenly unable to get out of her own half, Chelsea fell behind with practically the last kick of the middle.
James gave up possession and Diagne found Pereira, who danced through Chelsea’s chaotic defense before guiding a fresh low finish past Mendy from 10 yards.
Chelsea came close to drawing immediately when Johnstone made a hash with James cross, forcing Semi Ajayi to swing Alonso’s shot to the post.
Mount, as a substitute at half-time, nearly passed Johnstone with a clever free kick, but Chelsea suffered a severe blow in the 63rd minute.
A fluid movement from the visitors ended with Robinson running into a Darnell Furlong cross for a superb volley that outscored Mendy from 12 yards.
Chelsea was in tatters and West Brom compounded their misery with a magnificent 68th minute break that featured a flurry of skillful passes before Diagne reached home.
Mount cut the deficit with a close-range shot from Timo Werner’s pass in the 71st minute.
But Tuchel’s misery was completed in injury time when Robinson struck again with a ruined finish.
