Albion 2 Chelsea 3 - report and pictures

He was left out amid ongoing interest from Tottenham and saw replacement penalty-taker James Morrison denied by Thibaut Courtois on 13 minutes.

Morrison did score twice for the Baggies but Chelsea, who had John Terry sent off in the second half, won with goals from debutant Pedro, Diego Costa and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Baggies fans got their first glimpse from the start of record signing Salomon Rondon, who went close several times and forced Terry's dismissal.

Albion: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt, McManaman (Gnabry 77), Morrison (Gardner 88), Fletcher (c), Yacob, McClean (Lambert 60), Rondon. Subs: Rose, Chester, Lescott, Gardner, Gnabry, Anichebe, Lambert

Booking: McManaman (dissent 70);

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Pedro (Mikel 84), Willian (Cahill 54) Hazard; Diego Costa (Falcao 77). Subs: Begovic, Cahill, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Remy, Falcao.

Bookings: Matic (foul, 16).

Sent off: Terry (denying goalscoring opportunity 54).

Albion started brightly and Craig Dawson's cross from the right caused confusion in the Chelsea goalmouth early on, with Courtois in the visitors' goal palming it away from the waiting Rondon and Morrison.

Costa picked up possession in a dangerous position for Chelsea moments later but dragged his shot wide.

Rondon then fired just wide after racing onto a good ball by Morrison but he was flagged offside.

Albion were awarded a penalty when McManaman crashed down under a challenge from Matic but, after winning an argument with Brunt over who should take it, Morrison's drilled spot-kick was saved by the legs of Courtois in the Chelsea goal.

Dawson headed just over the crossbar from a Morrison free-kick on 18 minutes as Albion maintained their good start.

But Chelsea led on 20 minutes as Pedro made an immediate impact for Chelsea as he swapped passes with Hazard on the edge of the box and scored with the aid of a deflection off Gareth McAuley.

Ten minutes later Chelsea broke ruthlessly from an Albion corner, Willian fed Pedro and his cross-shot was turned home by Diego Costa for 2-0.

But the Baggies were level on 35 as James McClean's cross helped back across goal by Rondon and Morrison netted from 15 yards.

Willian should have restored Chelsea's two-goal lead when he blasted wide from a Pedro pul-back.

But the Blues did score three minutes before half-time as Azpilicueta netted after a lay-off from Costa on the edge of the area.

Terry was dismissed nine minutes after half-time when he was judged to have dragged down Rondon on the edge of the penalty area for a professional foul.

And five minutes later the Baggies were within one goal again as Morrison's fine header diverted a McManaman cross into the top corner.

Rondon and McManaman both shot wide for Albion soon afterwards and Rondon had a late effort blocked by Courtois as the Baggies pressed in vain.