Chelsea 1 '“ 0 West Brom: Conte baffled by threat of points loss

Antonio Conte has laughed off suggestions Chelsea could face a points deduction for their conduct in the mass brawl following their 3-1 win at Manchester City.

Diego Costa celebrates scoring Chelsea's winner against West Brom. Picture: Getty.

While Diego Costa’s fifth goal in six games secured the Blues’ ninth consecutive Premier League win yesterday, a gritty 1-0 home victory over West Brom, it has been reported that Chelsea could become the first side to be docked points over disciplinary issues since Arsenal and Manchester United in 1990, for their conduct at the Etihad Stadium on 3 December.

Blues manager Conte entirely rejected the notion, insisting he has been at pains for Chelsea to clean up their act.

“Are you joking? Are you joking?” asked Conte when quizzed on the prospect of Chelsea being docked Premier League points.

City players Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were sent off following the melee sparked by Aguero’s horror tackle on David Luiz during Chelsea’s win in the north-west.

Both City and Chelsea were charged with failing to control their players, and the Blues’ fifth such charge in 19 months has led to fears that the FA may impose a points deduction.

Chelsea were last fined for failing to control their players following the ill-tempered London derby with Tottenham at the end of last term. Reports have now indicated the Blues were then issued a warning in writing that any further breaches of discipline could lead to the club losing league points.

Conte, however, has insisted he remains unfazed by such talk, claiming he is in the process of cleaning Chelsea’s house on the discipline front.

“For me, if you are involved in a situation and the fault is not your one, you must pay? Why? I don’t understand this,” said Conte. “Manchester City and Chelsea, at the end of the game, my players tried to keep their calm. I don’t understand this. I repeat, I don’t understand this.

“We are trying to improve in all aspects, also (in) this (area). For this reason, I reply: you must be joking. You must be honest and understand which team is at fault.

“We had a bad record in the past, but now we are different.

“I don’t know what happened in the past. I know what happened in the present.

“For this reason, I ask if you are joking or not. After the game between City and Chelsea, you could see very clearly that my players tried to keep their calm.”

Costa’s 12th goal of the season gave Chelsea their ninth Premier League win in a row yesterday, the Spain hitman, below, robbing Gareth McAuley and blasting past Ben Foster.

Chelsea, who top the table, now have a tangible chance to break their record Premier League winning streak of 11 matches, with Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke all still to come this month.

Arsenal boast the all-time Premier League winning run with 13, but Conte has remained unmoved by the Blues’ tilt at rewriting the history books.

“I’m not interested in the record,” he said. “I’m interested in gaining three points in every game because that means we can stay top of the table, and fight for something important.”

West Brom boss Tony Pulis was left to lament McAuley’s costly mistake that gifted Chelsea victory, but refused to be angry with his players.

“The goal’s disappointing because Gareth should have dealt with it,” said Pulis. “I’m disappointed for them, because they’ve put so much into the game to then get beaten by that one mistake.”