West Brom 1–1 Chelsea
Chelsea dropped two points to a last gasp Victor Anichebe goal in a game where much was expected of them, but little delivered.
Blues had earlier taken the lead through Branislav Ivanovic at the very end of a frustrating half, where they rarely looked like breaking the deadlock.
The Hawthorns was transformed into the Snow Dome just before kick off, as Siberian weather coasted over the Black Country and turned it white.
The big screen invited patrons to bring their loved one to a St Valentines night date here. One wondered just how bad a relationship had to be, for a night at The Baggies' to provide a spark.
The game's opening was somewhat reminiscent of a different recent date – though one packed with little more romance.
Chelsea, dominating play and possession, kept the ball largely as a fixture in the opposition half – never in the opening half hour really looking like finding their way through their hosts' defence.
The fear was for another West Ham-style, 19th Century shut-out.
When the fourth official put up the board for two minutes added time, there was a feeling Jose Morinho may have to break some teacups.
But in the third of those two minutes, there came a moment of impact from a man accumulating them for fun at the moment.
A Willian corner was flicked on in the box by David Luiz, where it found one of the Blues most lethal of target-men: Ivanovic, from six yards.
Crockery saved, the second half settled back into the routine of much of the first.
For much of it Chelsea almost always had the upper hand. But seldom was it enough to even look like a threat.
Samuel Eto'o shot with force – right at Ben Foster. Willian had another go – at Foster again.
As the half progressed, the home side accumulated confidence. Chelsea, by contrast, seemed to lose the plot.
With 20 minutes to go, the turnarond was complete: and it was Baggies who repeatedly threatened a Chelsea side that seemed not sure what to do.
With three minutes remaining of the 90, the pressure paid off: a Saido Berahino cross from the left finding sub Anichebe to head in – the forward evading Luiz at centre half, himself deputising for a momentarily incapacitated Gary Cahill.
Chelsea couldn't say it hadn't been coming. And the home crowd delighted in what they saw as some small retribution for a controversial draw at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.
Chelsea remain top: two points ahead of Arsenal who host Manchester United tomorrow
