Andre Villas-Boas was dismissed after a defeat at the Hawthorns last season and while Di Matteo is not believed to be under immediate pressure, four games without a win in the Premier League is usually viewed as a mini-crisis at Stamford Bridge.
With a vital Champions League game against Juventus on Tuesday night, Di Matteo opted to rest Ashley Cole, Juan Mata, Ramires, Oscar and Branislav Ivanovic but no matter the personnel Chelsea continue to display an alarming propensity to concede soft goals.
Shortly after Ryan Bertrand's shot was cleared off the line by Liam Ridgewell, the visitors were behind after ten minutes, following further suspect defending from David Luiz. The Brazilian continues to polarise opinion and was at fault as he inexplicably lost Long, who headed in James Morrison's cross at the far post.
Long was a constant pest in the first half, dragging Gary Cahill all across the final third, and nearly added another goal but his low shot arced wide.
But Chelsea levelled six minutes before half-time when Cesar Azpilicueta's cross found Eden Hazard at the back post and his header beat Myhill after taking a deflection off Billy Jones.
The momentum appeared to have shifted towards Chelsea and Daniel Sturridge tested Myhill three minutes into the second period but Albion regained the lead through Odemwingie.
Clarke will lose Odemwingie in January when he reports for the Africa Cup of Nations and the Nigerian underlined his importance once again by heading in Long's cross as Chelsea's defence dithered.
Di Matteo introduced Mata and Oscar just after the hour - with Fernando Torres replaced after another completely ineffectual afternoon - and Chelsea immediately became more threatening.
Claudio Yacob and Albion were both fortunate to escape punishment when the Argentinean midfielder brought down Victor Moses in the area before Sturridge forced another save from Myhill after he was found by Mata's sublime chipped pass.
Myhill, who was only playing due to Ben Foster's groin injury, excelled again to deny Sturridge and the Chelsea striker then wasted a glorious chance three minutes from time as Albion clung on for another prized scalp on home turf.
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