Diego Costa nets 11th goal as leaders Chelsea coast to win over West Brom

Chelsea continued their seemingly inexorable march to the title with Diego Costa scoring his 11th league goal of the season in a 2-0 win over 10-man West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho's side moved ahead on 11 minutes when Costa controlled an Oscar cross before planting a volley into the net and Eden Hazard added the second goal 14 minutes later after slipping the ball beyond Ben Foster from Cesc Fabregas's passed corner.

West Brom's defence was in a dreadful state, and their day continued to go from bad to worse when Claudio Jacob was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Costa just before the half-hour mark.

It was a harsh decision having won the ball, but was a technically correct call by referee Lee Mason in the modern game such was the dangerous element of the challenge.

The second period was a non-event with Chelsea content to declare on two, but West Brom can thank goalkeeper Ben Foster from preventing a heavier defeat.

Chelsea are seven points clear of second-placed Southampton after 12 games of the season. They have only spilled points in draws at Manchester City and Manchester United.

6' - FOSTER STOP! Superb stop from Foster to deny Terry the opening goal from five yards out after Chelsea worked the short corner. Dawson then clears the corner from the other stuff. West Brom living on the edge.

11' - GOAL! Azpilicueta with the pass to Oscar for the cross. Costa controls with his chest before firing the volley into the net. Great finish, no chance for Foster. Chelsea lead 1-0.

25' - GOAL! A second for Chelsea as Hazard's shot is deflected off Dawson before beating Foster. Awful defending. And Chelsea lead 2-0.

40' - FOSTER TO THE RESCUE AGAIN! Foster races off his line to make a solid stop from Costa. Another excellent save by the England goalkeeper, who is having a superb match.

47' - CHANCE! Another glorious chance for Chelsea to increase the margin, but Matic lifts the ball over the bar from the Oscar pass. Should really have been three.

75' - FOSTER AGAIN WITH THE STOP! This time from Hazard after he had burst on to the Fabregas pass. Another eye-catching save from Foster.

Chelsea’s 32 points from their opening 12 PL matches this season is their best such start to a top-flight season, beating the 31 pts at this stage in 2005/06.

Chelsea remain the last unbeaten team in the Premier League, setting a club record in the top flight as the longest start to a season without a loss (12 matches). They are now unbeaten in 15 PL matches, their best streak since December 2007 – October 2008. They have now won six in a row at home in the PL, their best streak since May – October 2013.

Chelsea have won their last five home matches in the PL, their best streak since a six-match run between May – October 2013.

TALKING POINT Was the Stamford Bridge crowd any better? Jose Mourinho called for an improvement in atmosphere, and he could not complain about the response he got from Chelsea's "12th man". But then it is easy to get excited if you are a Chelsea fan these days. Some of their play was glorious despite the second half being as interesting as watching paint dry. The damage was all done in the first half.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Ben Foster (West Brom) A superb performance from the visiting goalkeeper to keep the score down to two. England manager Roy Hodgson would have been delighted with his performance. A real class alternative to Joe Hart and Fraser Forster.

Chelsea: Courtois 6, Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Azpilicueta 7, Matic, Fabregas 7, Willian 7, Oscar 8, Hazard 8, Costa 8..subs: Ramires 6, Drogba 6, Remy 6

West Bromwich Albion: Foster 9, Wisdom 6, Dawson 6, Lescott 6, Yacob 5, Baird 5, Gardner 5, Brunt 5, Dorrans 5, Sessegnon 5, Berahino 5...subs: Gamboa 6, Morrison 6, Anichebe 6