Chelsea back on top of Premier League with ninth win in a row

Diego Costa made the difference as Chelsea overcame a defensive West Bromwich Albion 1-0 to return to the top of the English Premier League with their ninth victory in a row on Sunday.

The Spaniard’s second-half strike sent the Blues three points clear of Arsenal, who had taken the overall lead on goals scored on Saturday after seeing off Stoke City 3-1 at the Emirates.

With the game heading for a goalless stalemate at Stamford Bridge, Costa seized on a defensive error to break the deadlock with a superb shot into the top left corner in the 76th minute.

It was the league top scorer’s 12th goal of the campaign, as many as he scored in all of last season.

Chelsea, who have now won nine Premier League games in a row for the fifth time in their history, have 37 points to Arsenal’s 34 after 15 games.

Antonio Conte’s men created very little in the first half against a stubborn side who had taken 10 points from their last four games, but the introduction of Cesc Fabregas as a 74th-minute substitute provided a breakthrough.

Fabregas played a long ball to the corner and hesitant West Brom defender Gareth McAuley, with time to clear, was dispossessed by Costa who gave goalkeeper Ben Foster no chance.