The first bit of Jonas Olsson-Diego Costa aggro. I doubt it will be the last.

The pair tangle as they chase a lost cause of a long ball forward from Chelsea's midfield. 

Both end up on the floor and exchange dirty looks. Fuse lit.

Chelsea are looking flaky in the air despite having John Terry and Kurt Zouma at the heart of their defence.

West Brom pick on Jon Obi Mikel instead, with Craig Dawson getting above the Nigeria international and testing Thibaut Courtois with a tidy header.

Courtois passes the test.

Better from the Baggies.

Darren Fletcher, who has been bombing on with gusto, gets on the end of a low cross that makes its way through a thicket of defenders to the far post.

His first touch is heavy however. Cesar Azpilicueta is able to get across and block his second - a rising shot.

Promising signs for Chelsea as a series of one-touch flicks and flourishes almost springs Diego Costa.

Chelsea are running this show.

West Brom are penned back, concentrating like a man who has just discovered a spitting cobra in the bottom of his sleeping bag.

The pattern has been set.

Oh nice.

Willian is all right foot, but when it is as good as his you can use the left one just for leaning.

A flash of a stepover sends Jonas Olsson skidding off stage left as he cuts inside and rattles a low fizzing shot just wide from 18 yards and a tricky angle.

Image source, Reuters

An injury blow for West Brom.

James Morrison pings a hamstring as he attempts to close down Jon Obi Mikel and is a goner.

Craig Gardner is on in his place.

An early chance for West Brom with their first serious attack and a hint that this Chelsea defence still has a soft underbelly.

Darren Fletcher gets forward and hangs a cross up to the far post where James McClean climbs above his marker and his own team-mate Salomon Rondon, but can only guide his header over.

Tony Pulis is matching his trademark cap with a black and white scarf.

Very smart. Saido Berahino is on the bench behind him. 

Enjoy him - or not - while you can Baggies fans.

Image source, Reuters

Diego Costa is looking frisky.

The Spaniard, as dull as dishwater under Jose Mourinho, knocks the ball past a hopeless wrong-footed Jonny Evans before hammering a rising shot wide from 18 yards.

Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce takes a note of all the players wearing coloured boots.

A list of shame? Or a good way to identify players from the gantry?

Either way, we are under way. Anthony Taylor is in charge of this match.

John Terry is, quite literally, licking his lips in the tunnel. The Chelsea captain can't wait.

The Stamford Bridge emcee ramps up the anticipation another notch as he kills the house lights, keeping only the teams and the central section of the pitch illuminated.

We are nearly ready for the off. 

"Blue is the colour, football is the game."

The television cameras have zoomed in on the executive boxes and picked out Eden Hazard.

The Belgian - brilliant last season, less so this - is in position to see how his team-mates get on without him.

He is out with a groin injury and hopes to return for the match away to Arsenal next week.

He looks distinctly bored. 

Image source, .

What is the best Chelsea can hope for from this season?

They are 13 points off the top four.

They are 19 points behind leaders Arsenal.

The current champions had 20 points at the halfway stage of this season - the highest finishing position for a Premier League side with that record is eighth.

Needless to say, they could with all three points tonight.

Image source, PA

"Come and try, come and buy, the finest ironed-on lettering in all of Westminster."

The long wait to January pay-day means that even the denizens of Chelsea are holding back on hooky replica shirts.

West Brom are coming into this game on the back of successive league win - beating Newcastle and Stoke.

They are three points and two places higher than Chelsea in the league.

But they have a stinking historic record at Stamford Bridge.

The Baggies have not won in 11 top-flight home matches against Chelsea, losing 10 and drawing one, since a 3-1 win in September 1978.

A full 10 years before this photo was taken. Time to buck the trend Tony.

Chelsea bring Thibaut Courtois and John Terry back into defence after the pair were rested in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe. Jon Obi Mikel is also back in midfield while Loic Remy is on the bench after recovering from a calf injury.  

Image source, .

 West Brom make three changes from the team that beat Stoke last time out in the league with Jonas Olsson, James McClean and Salomon Rondon back in the starting line-up. Craig Gardner, Stephane Sessegnon and Rickie Lambert make way.  

Image source, .