Guus Hiddink’s top four aspirations continue to stall

Chelsea 2 West Brom 2: Guus Hiddink had undeniably improved Chelsea — but this game showed just how much more work the interim manager has to do if he is to have any hope of steering last season’s champions back towards the leading group.

The Dutchman claimed before this game that while the top four remains a possibility, that will be the club’s target.

He couldn’t really say anything else, and many more games like this and he will be spared the need to answer such an awkward question. There were signs of the progress Hiddink’s side have made, particularly when they went ahead first through Cesar Azpilicueta and then when Kenedy forced Gareth McAuley into an own goal. But the way they allowed West Brom to come back into the game confirmed the flaws.