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LONDON. — Antonio Conte praised Chelsea fans for sticking by him, after a comfortable 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge, eased pressure on the Italian manager.

Conte’s Chelsea future had been placed under the harshest spotlight after successive heavy losses to Bournemouth and Watford – but a victory that took them back up to fourth in the Premier League will ease those concerns for now.

Conte’s name was sung throughout by the home fans, in an obvious show of support.

“I have to thank the fans because they showed me great support,” he said. “They are reading speculation and rumours on me and I’m grateful to the fans.

“It means they understand my passion, my will to defend this colour, this shirt, this badge.

“I have to live with this pressure until the end of the season. I don’t want this pressure to weigh on the shoulders of my players.”

Conte needed the brilliance of Hazard to settle early uncertainty on the pitch and in the stands. Hazard exchanged passes with Olivier Giroud before giving Chelsea a first-half lead and, after Moses slid home a second after the break, sealed victory with a powerful drive in the 71st minute. — Reuters.