CHELSEA survived the dismissal of Arjen Robben to move a step closer to retaining their Premiership title yesterday. In Jose Mourinho's 100th match as manager of the Blues, goals from Didier Drogba and Joe Cole gave the visitors a 72nd win under the Portuguese's leadership - before Kanu pulled a goal back two minutes from time.

But yet again a win for Chelsea was accompanied by some acrimony, with suggestions of gamesmanship levelled at the league leaders by WBA manager Bryan Robson after the game. Robson was annoyed by a delay to the start of the second-half and some perceived dramatics from Drogba.

Chelsea were forced to start without Frank Lampard, sidelined because of a hamstring injury, with Eidur Gudjohnsen coming into the team. There was a joint minute's silence before the game in memory of Stamford Bridge legend Peter Osgood, after which Chelsea made a confident start. Drogba found the net after only five minutes, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Chelsea kept the pot boiling and in the sixth minute Gudjohnsen scuffed a shot wide following a poor clearance from Martin Albrechtsen.

West Brom though suddenly came into the game and in the ninth minute skipper Kevin Campbell get on the end of a cross from Diomansy Kamara but his powerful header was saved by Petr Cech.

Chelsea looked out of sorts.

Makelele tried to thread the ball through to Gudjohnsen in the 29th minute but overhit the pass. A minute later Damien Duff tried his luck with a volley only to see it taken cleanly by goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak. Chelsea were anxious to make the breakthrough and Duff laid the ball back to Michael Essien in the 34th minute but he fired a shot over the top.

West Brom were making a decent fist of it and Jonathan Greening delivered a good cross which was headed to safety by Robert Huth. Gudjohnsen then tried to release Drogba in the 39th minute but Paul Robinson made a timely interception. Then Kamara picked up the ball from deep and rattled a shot that went narrowly wide of the post.

Baggies boss Bryan Robson was unhappy at Chelsea's late appearance for the second half, but when the game restarted, the Blues began at a high tempo and Arjen Robben whipped in a cross which was cleared by Albrechtsen. And the leaders made the breakthrough in the 51st minute thanks to Drogba's ninth goal of the season.

The Ivory Coast international showed good skill to weave his way into the West Brom area before delivering a low shot beyond Kuszczak. It was just the lift Chelsea needed but the home side threatened two minutes later when Greening swung in a corner which was cleared by Essien.

But Chelsea continued to look dangerous every time they broke forward and Drogba almost added a second in the 57th minute, only for his effort to be pushed round the post by the goalkeeper.

Chelsea were playing some nice football in an increasingly niggly game and Robben found Gudjohnsen, whose effort was easily caught by Kuszczak.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 62nd minute when Robben was given a straight red card by referee Mark Halsey after launching himself into Greening. Mourinho then made a switch in the 64th minute bringing on Cole for Duff. Cole almost scored with his first touch, his shot finishing just over the top of the bar. Drogba was incensed by a challenge from Greening and so were the Chelsea bench, but Halsey waved play on and stewards moved in as Mourinho and his staff became more agitated.

Chelsea extended their lead in the 74th minute when the ball broke to Cole from Drogba and the substitute beat the keeper with his shot seemingly taking a deflection along the way. Substitute Kanu pulled a goal back with a fine half-volley from Robinson's deflected cross from the left, but it was too little too late for the struggling home side.

While the result was a fair outcome, Albion were angered by the delay to the start of the second half, Didier Drogba and William Gallas both coming out late. No-one from Chelsea attended the postmatch press conference to give their thoughts on the game. "It is a group decision, " said a spokesman, who claimed the players had been delayed at the start of the second half because of a telling-off by the manager.

West Brom manager Bryan Robson found it difficult to contain his anger over Chelsea's stalling tactics. He said: "The bell had gone ages ago and our players had gone out to get on with the game.

For whatever reason Chelsea came out late. Whether they believe it takes the sting out of the game or drops the tempo, I don't know. But it annoyed me as my players wanted to get on with the second half.

For me if the bell has gone, why wait for the players who were late? If they are not there, get on with the game. I am happy to play Chelsea with nine men."

Robson continued: "I thought Robben was a bit unfortunate to get sent off but Drogba tried to even it up.

Jonathan Greening did not touch him . . . he dived. Jose Mourinho had a different opinion to me but at least the referee did not buy it."