Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole pinpointed the poor performances of two players as he watched his side slump to a humiliating 5-2 home defeat to West Brom.
The relegation-threatened Baggies took full advantage of Thiago Silva’s first half red card to punish a lacklustre Blues side in emphatic fashion, thanks to two goals each from Matheus Pereira and Callum Robinson as well as Mbaye Diagne’s strike.
Covering the match for BT Sport, Cole picked out Jorginho and Marcos Alonso in particular as being partly to blame for the result.
“Jorginho is usually so assured with the ball, aware of what’s going on around him,” he said. “He gave the ball away more than I’ve ever seen him today.
“Alonso wasn’t on it, on the front foot, we’ve seen him play very very well in recent weeks.”
(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel also hinted that Jorghino’s poor passing was a factor in their defeat after the Italian gifted possession to the opposition ahead of Silva’s second booking.
‘We did big mistakes before the two yellow cards. There were too many easy ball losses.’ he said.
The Blues had actually taken the lead in the game through American winger Christian Pulisic but after their Brazilian defender picked up two yellow cards, the visitors were galvanised.
Pereira struck twice in first half stoppage time to turn the game in the favour before Robinson and Diagne extended their advantage after the break.
Mason Mount reduced the deficit but Robinson restored West Brom’s three goal advantage late on.
(Image: West Bromwich Albion FC via Gett)
The result was Chelsea’s first defeat under Tuchel in 15 games since his appointment in January and Cole believes it will be a lesson for the new boss.
‘We can’t be too harsh on him because he’s been faultless so far,” he added. “But this is a lesson that the Premier League is unforgiving.
“‘No matter who you play against you’ve got to be 100% or you won’t win.”
