Returning from the international break, Chelsea might have been expected to take some time to regain their frightening momentum.
Instead, Jose Mourinho’s team steamrolled a poor West Bromwich Albion side from the off at Stamford Bridge, eventually running out far more comfortable winners than the 2-0 scoreline suggested to continue their seemingly inexorable march toward the Premier League title.
Goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard had Chelsea two goals to the good before Claudio Yacob earned a red card for a poor two-footed tackle on Costa, all before the half-hour mark had been reached.
The result could easily have been far more emphatic, but Chelsea could afford play out the last hour in complete comfort in the knowledge that the weekend would end with their four-point advantage atop the Premier League table at the very least preserved.
By the 11th minute, Chelsea were inevitably in front.
Despite having a penalty box packed with defenders, West Brom allowed Costa complete freedom in the middle of it.
With the minimum of fuss he chested down and volleyed home Oscar’s cross after a disastrous attempt to play offside that left the visiting team stationary, appealing for in vain for a flag.
It was Costa’s 11th goal in 10 Premier League appearances, and one of his most straightforward.
For a time Chelsea still pushed to extend their advantage.
But after Nemanja Matic scored a presentable chance on the volley from another superb pass from Oscar at the start of the second half, both teams sauntered toward the game’s inevitable conclusion.