Admit it if you expected Nicolas Anelka to respond to his Champions League final chunterings by dropping down or even out of the rankings at Stamford Bridge. Go on, you would not be alone. Instead, the France striker is usurping Didier Drogba as Chelsea’s first-choice front man. Leading the Barclays Premier League goalscoring chart, it is no accident that Anelka’s presence has coincided with the team equalling the top-flight record for consecutive away wins.

As Drogba prepares to face a three-match suspension if, as expected, he accepts a charge of violent conduct for his coin-throwing folly by 6pm today, Anelka should retain his place in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side anyway. Drogba’s injury problems, even before he returned a coin into the Burnley crowd in last Wednesday’s Carling Cup defeat, gave the artist formerly known as the incredible sulk the central role he craved. And how he has taken it.

“Anelka’s been on fire,” John Terry said. “Some of his link-up play as well as his goals have been brilliant. He’s been a saviour for us with Didier out.”

The Chelsea captain was the other man to miss a penalty in the Champions League final defeat by Manchester United six months ago, but while his stoical response this season has typified the man, his more insular teammate has revealed a surprising resilience.

Anelka spurned his spot-kick in Moscow before complaining that he had been in no frame of mind to take one since he had been obliged to go on in extra time as a left back. This was his sour response to replacing Joe Cole on the flank. Still, it was Avram Grant who paid the ultimate penalty – with his job – rather than Anelka and the man who has wandered in and out of English football with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers has 13 goals to his name after Saturday’s brace.

No one has ever doubted his finishing ability. Terry knew of Anelka’s qualities from the times he has faced him as an opponent. “Anelka is in the best form of his career,” the England captain said. “When we signed him, I said, ‘Thank God you are here’ because I used to hate playing against him.”

Not only does Anelka take a high ratio of his chances, he is also ideally suited to a counter-attacking game, given his pace. With John Obi Mikel sitting in the anchor role, Chelsea ask teams to come at them and West Brom acquiesced, with no little style. believing that they had a chance in the opening half-hour, when Borja Valero threatened to run the show.

Then José Boswinga capitalised on Scott Carson’s poor positioning to curl home a left-foot shot before Anelka cruised through with two more goals to kill the contest by half-time.

West Brom, bottom with one point from five games, should not be despondent; they are three points off twelfth place as they prepare for Stoke City, Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth and Sunderland, games in which their mettle will be shown.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): S Carson 4 – G Zuiverloon 4, A Méïté 4 (sub: R Donk, 69min 4), J Olsson 4, P Robinson 5 – J Morrison 6 (sub: F Teixeira, 59 6), J Greening 5, B Valero 7, R Koren 5 – R Bednar 4 (sub: Kim Do Heon , 46 4), I Miller 4. Substitutes not used: D Kiely, M Cech, C Brunt, L Moore. Next: Stoke City (a).

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): C Cudicini 6 – J Bosingwa 7, B Ivanovic 6, J Terry 6 (sub: P Ferreira, 86), W Bridge 6 – J O Mikel 7 – S Kalou 6 (sub: M Ballack, 68), Deco 7, F Lampard 8, F Malouda 6 – N Anelka 7 (sub: D Drogba, 75). Substitutes not used: H Hilário, A Cole, S Sinclair, Mineiro. Booked: Terry, Bosingwa, Ivanovic. Next: Newcastle United (h).

Referee S Bennett Attendance 26,322

Capello watch

Frank Lampard purred through, linking the play, making dynamic runs. Scott Carson was wobbly: poor on crosses, communication and, for two goals, positioning. John Terry, occasionally questioned for pace before being injured, played calmly.