Branislav Ivanovic endures nightmare Chelsea return with West Brom

Branislav Ivanovic’s Chelsea return lasts just 13 MINUTES as West Brom’s veteran defender is replaced, despite being a first-half substitute, after pulling up with a hamstring injury following foot race with Timo Werner

Branislav Ivanovic came on as a substitute for Dara O’Shea in the 24th minute
But his game came to an end just 13 minutes later after pulling with an injury
Ivanovic sustained the injury following a sprint race with Chelsea’s Timo Werner
Chelsea 2-5 West Brom: Thomas Tuchel’s men thrashed by Baggies on Saturday

Branislav Ivanovic endured a wretched return to Chelsea on Saturday after lasting just 13 minutes on the pitch for West Brom having initially come on as a substitute.

Ivanovic came on for the injured Dara O’Shea in the 24th minute of the entertaining Premier League encounter but before he knew it his time was up after pulling up with what looked like a hamstring injury.

The former Blues right back went head-to-head with the speedy Timo Werner in a sprint race but the 37-year-old instantly pulled up.

Branislav Ivanovic lasted just 13 minutes on his return to Chelsea after pulling up with injury

Ivanovic appeared to pull his hamstring following a foot race with the speedy Timo Werner

Ivanovic was then replaced himself in the 37th minute by Callum Robinson at Stamford Bridge.

Ivanovic became a fan favourite during his time at Stamford Bridge, having played for the club for nine years between 2008 and 2017.

The defender amassed a huge 377 appearances for the Premier League giants, winning three league titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, three FA Cups and one League Cup.

But while it was a miserable return to Stamford Bridge on a personal note for Ivanovic, he saw his West Brom team-mates remarkably thrash Chelsea 5-2 on Saturday.

Thiago Silva’s red card turned the game on its head at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon

Matheus Pereira scored twice in first-half injury-time for relegation-threatened West Brom

Chelsea took the lead in the 27th minute through Christian Pulisic but just two minutes later, the hosts went down to 10 men after Thiago Silva was shown a second yellow.

Then Sam Allardyce’s relegation-threatened Baggies turned the game on its head with two goals in first-half injury-time through Matheus Pereira.

And the entertainment continued in the second half as West Brom raced into a 4-1 lead thanks to an emphatic volley by Robinson before Mbaye Diagne slotted home the visitors’ fourth.

Mason Mount pulled a goal back for Chelsea in the 71st minute but Robinson completed the rout in injury-time to seal an incredible afternoon for the Baggies.