Batshuayi came off the bench to earn a 1-0 victory
over West Brom at The Hawthorns on Friday.
Following Monday's comfortable 3-0 win at home
to Middlesbrough, Antonio Conte's side knew just
three points were needed to ensure the trophy
would return to Stamford Bridge and, in keeping
with their efforts throughout much of the season,
the Blues delivered when it mattered.
So often in 2016-17 the likes of Eden Hazard,
Diego Costa and Pedro have been the men to
inspire the Blues, but on this occasion it was
Belgium international Batshuayi's turn to revel in
the spotlight.
Hazard and Pedro had been smartly shackled by
the Baggies' resolute backline, so much so that
Conte substituted his star playmakers and replaced
them with Willian and Batshuayi, the latter of whom
stabbed home the decisive goal eight minutes from
time.
Chelsea have played some sublime football at
times throughout this campaign, although the
winner was anything but - Gary Cahill's shanked
shot finding its way to Cesar Azpilicueta, who
squared low across the six-yard area for Batshuayi
to get the better of Ben Foster and spark scenes of
delirium in the away end and on the touchline.
Conte's celebration was typically frantic and the
victory was just reward for the Italian, who has
masterminded the Blues' ascent in his debut
campaign, helping to put to bed memories of last
season's dismal defence of the 2014-15 crown.
In the hunt for a club-record Premier League
points tally, West Brom still had plenty to play for
and came close to delivering an early dampener on
Chelsea's party when Salomon Rondon's flicked
header had to be touched over the crossbar by
Thibaut Courtois inside 25 seconds.
Chelsea imposed themselves on proceedings
thereafter, Pedro's effort from 20 yards deflected
narrowly wide with Foster helpless.
The hosts were not without threat, however, and
twice James McClean played poor passes to bring
a disappointing end to promising counter-attacks -
both of which came from Chelsea corners.
Cesc Fabregas arrowed a shot agonisingly wide of
Foster's right-hand post just after the half-hour
mark, Pedro also firing off target as Chelsea probed
for an opener.
That search continued early in the second half as
Foster got down brilliantly to tip Victor Moses' low
drive behind within two minutes of the restart.
Tony Pulis introduced Claudio Yacob to shore up
the Baggies' midfield, and Craig Dawson was
grateful for his team-mate's presence on the line to
prevent an own goal following quick feet from
Hazard.
Despite their dominance of possession, Chelsea
still had to be wary of their hosts' countering
capabilities and, left one-on-one with David Luiz,
Rondon slipped clear and raced towards goal, only
to be denied by a fine block from Azpilicueta.
Substitute Nacer Chadli shot wide at the end of
another break as Chelsea looked
uncharacteristically vulnerable, but any concerns
were put to bed as Azpilicueta made the most of
Cahill's wayward effort to find Batshuayi, who
picked the perfect time to score his first Premier
League goal since August and get the Blues' title
celebrations under way in earnest.
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