Chelsea resilience pleases Rosenior after chaotic London derby win over luckless Hammers
- Julian Taylor at Stamford Bridge
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Chelsea 3 West Ham United 2
The margins between triumph and mental fatigue and failure at Premier League level were perfectly illustrated amid Chelsea’s late act of cruelty against a spirited West Ham.
A thunderous London derby clash was settled when Enzo Fernandez netted from close range to cap a recovery when the Hammers took a 2-0 half time lead. Half time boos from the home support were completely transformed by the end of all this ferocity, and a late red card for West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo for grabbing Joao Pedro round the neck illustrated all too much anguish.
Initially, strikes by Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville’s fourth goal in successive games rocked Stamford Bridge as West Ham belied their lowly position in the ongoing fight to avoid relegation.
However, Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior made shrewd substitutions - and two of those, Pedro and Marc Cucurella dragged the Blues level, before West Ham eventually wilted against the grandstand onslaught.
Nevertheless, reports of a full blown crisis and demise at the Hammers remain premature despite this loss and notable isolation behind fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team may have erred by adopting an ultra-defensive strategy against a top four side in order to protect their lead, but their first half showing was excellent, full of pace, power and assertion. Those 45 minutes should be their template for the second half of a hitherto torrid campaign.
A response to criticism from supporters at the interval was, among other aspects, a first major test of Rosenior’s managerial credentials. Chelsea’s fight back showed proper character in the second half, epitomised by Cucurella, who headed in the leveller, prior to Fernandez’s moment on his 150th appearance for the Blues.
Such were the frustrations surrounding West Ham’s embattled players, who could not quite believe how they had been rumbled. Their performance deserved more, yet they remain five points adrift of Forest at the wrong end of the table.
Vulnerable
Chelsea looked particularly vulnerable to counter attacks in the first half. But with a sense that the Blues could only improve after the break and Espirito Santo’s decision to defend a two goal lead proved to be counter productive.
A lot of questions were being asked of the visitors on what was expected to be a stern test in west London. Chelsea were fresh from four successive wins under Rosenior, the latest being an impressive 3-2 win over Napoli on Wednesday in Italy on Champions League duty.
“There is a spirit, and resilience from this group which I demanded when I first came in”, said Rosenior.
“We knew it would be difficult - I have to give West Ham credit – but we responded positively to setbacks.
“It is very difficult with so many games in a short space of time and out decision making was poor in the first half. West Ham were by far the better team. The reaction in the second half shows we have something special here”.
On the other hand, the Hammers had shown gentle signs of perhaps extracting themselves out of their mess. Back-to-back victories at Tottenham Hotspur and at home to Sunderland alleviated some of the pressure. Nevertheless, with the late sale of Lucas Paqueta to Flamengo for £35m it leaves Espirito Santo with scant time to find a replacement for what is an undoubted battle to remain in the top tier.
In that sense, it was a surprise to see West Ham – looking dangerous on the break - take an early lead.
With just seven minutes gone, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Bowen linked up on the right side. And the latter, from a seemingly innocuous position curled a left footed shot which somehow deceived Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez before nestling into the far corner of the net.
Chelsea looked listless and could not gather fluency, unable to provide decent service for Alejandro Garnacho on the left wing. There was indeed little sign of what was to follow. Espirito Santo had West Ham well organised.
And there was a further blow for the Blues when Jamie Gittens was forced to go off with a knock in 26 minutes to be replaced by Pedro Neto.
As the east Londoners grew more confident, a reward arrived in sublime fashion in the 36th minute. Chelsea were stunned with an expertly-crafted West Ham move.
Once again, Bowen and Wan-Bissaka combined to great effect on the right, before the latter spotted Summerville moving into the penalty area. The unmarked midfielder exacted fine technique to instantly curl the ball low into the net, sending the visiting fans into raptures.
Rosenior needed to change the mood. Having made seven changes from Napoli, the head coach made a triple alternation. Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana and Joao Pedro came on for Benoit Badiashile, Jarrel Hato and Garnacho respectively. The success of his choices is sure to embolden a manager whose recent appointment drew widespread scepticism.
Chelsea halved the deficit in 57 minutes, the subs linking to fine effect.
Fofana pushed forward, and from his inviting cross, Pedro rose at the edge of six yard box to keenly direct a header and wrong foot West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola.
Verve
It is such moments which ignite self-belief and verve – and the hosts had the scent.
Areola pulled off a stunning save to deny Moises Caiceido from distance as Chelsea began to offer threat form various angles.
The Blues’ persistence paid off when they equalised in the 69th minute. Another long cross flighted into the West Ham danger zone was met by Malo Gusto, whose header clipped the bar, before Cucurella was first to react to the loose ball with a diving header into the net.
The Hammers’ earlier athleticism fast evaporated, amid Chelsea’s restored confidence. If the early evening in west London proved to be predictably hectic, the Blues bolted on an injury time winner to crank up the chaos.
Fernandez’s finish inside the penalty area from Joao Pedro’s assist ended the visitors’ formidable resistance. Todibo’s sending off, amid a melee, was simply a reflection of West Ham’s understandable shock at how events conspired against them.
Chelsea may have inched into the top four, but while West Ham left Stamford Bridge stunned and pointless, their collective, new belief should remain intact after one of their toughest examinations of the season.
Blues: Sanchez, Badiashile, Fernandez, Delap, Palmer, Gittens (Neto 26), Hato, Chalobah, Caicedo, Gusto (James 80), Garnacho
Hammers: Areola, Summerville, Castellanos (Wilson 75), Malick-Diouf (Scarles 81), Mavropanos, Fernades, Pablo (Kilman 65), Bowen (Traore 81), Todibo, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka
