Match report: Chelsea 1 West Ham United 0

Chelsea FC · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:37 pm

Match report: Chelsea 1 West Ham United 0

No repeat of the five goals and fireworks of this fixture last season but a gritty London derby has gone Chelsea’s way, thanks to a set-piece special by Gérémi.

In his third consecutive start, the Cameroon international is laying a strong claim to making the previously changeable right-back position all his own. Once again he was part of a clean sheet performance as well as contributing at the other end.

In a game that was far too tight, and far too hard-fought to allow the football to sparkle for more than a few minutes at a time, all three of Chelsea’s Africans emerged with credit.

Essien’s incredible energy was there for all to see as West Ham collected a handful of yellow cards in an attempt to reduce his influence — all to no avail as he covered acres of pitch right up to the final whistle, unlucky not to have scored with a shot that hit woodwork.

Drogba was supreme in the air at both ends of the pitch, though the chances did not fall his way. It was a day when the offside flag was his sworn enemy as he was asked to lead the attack as a single central striker.

That was because Arjen Robben was given his first start since White Hart Lane in a 4-3-3 shape with Michael Ballack rested. The rest of the side remained the same from the Watford win last time out.

On three minutes, Terry got a firm header onto the first corner of the game, taken by Robben. Under heavy pressure from Ferdinand, the skipper was high of the target.

Little happened in either penalty area after that until minute 14 when the Chelsea captain met another corner — this one from the other side and taken by Lampard. The header went closer, but not close enough.

Lampard became the game’s first booking three minutes later for tripping right-back Spector on a break into the Chelsea half.

Within three minutes the visitors had a man cautioned too — Gabbidon for bringing down Drogba as he powered onto a subtle Shevchenko touch and through the defensive line.

The free-kick was 25 yards out and centrally positioned. Lampard and Drogba both lined-up behind it but the taker was the unanticipated Gérémi.

The flight of the ball was perfect, curling up and over the wall and well out of the reach of Robert Green.

It was Gérémi’s first goal since Anfield 13 months ago. It was the 12th Green had conceded in his last four games against the Blues.

The prolonged celebration ended in a handshake with his manager, as if Gérémi was saying thanks for his run in the team and the boss was showing gratitude for arguably Gérémi’s most influential Chelsea form.

With the breakthrough made, the home side looked to pile on the pressure. Shevchenko failed to find his strike partner with the Hammers defence all at sea and Robben sliced a good opportunity wide.

With four minutes to go to the break, Robben scooped another chance across goal and wide after a long throw had dropped his way.

Ashley Cole blocked a shot from Reo-Coker as the first-half drew to a close but Chelsea’s biggest problems in defence had been all of our own making — Cudicini and Terry with a spot of miscommunication and Cole deflecting a Carvalho mis-header wide.

That was until Etherington flashed a shot wide in first-half stoppage time after Cole had allowed Tevez to win possession out wide.

So it was 1-0 at the interval and going pretty well, even if the play had lacked the fluidity of the previous two games.

All was not okay with Ricardo Carvalho however. The centre-back had been troubled by a problem with his ankle since the early stages and had undergone treatment on the side lines. For the second-half a change was made with Khalid Boulahrouz coming on.

Six minutes after the restart, Shevchenko, with good vision, touched a pass through to Lampard but the shot was stabbed high and wide.

A Boulahrouz slip allowed Zamora a sight of goal just past the hour but West Ham’s lone striker never looked as if he believed in his ability as he volleyed horribly off-target.

The game in midfield was closer than the first-half. A second Chelsea goal was now much in need to break the West Ham resistance.

On 68 minutes Joe Cole was introduced for Shevchenko. Seconds earlier, Reo-Coker, who had been engaged in a simmering dispute with Drogba for much of the first 45 minutes, had been booked for a foul on Essien.

On 69 minutes, Mullins followed his captain into the book, Essien again the kicked player. Four minutes later Tevez was the sinner with a copycat foul. It was a useful reminder that the invisible Argentine was on the pitch in the second-half.

Between the bookings, Essien took the fight to the visitors in a legal manner — smacking a low 30-yarder against the post.

A great chance to double the lead then fell to the head of Terry but for the third time in the game from a corner, he failed to hit the target — bouncing the ball too far down and over the goal.

With seven minutes to go, Drogba had the ball in the net from Joe Cole’s ball but had been caught marginally offside. That decision was correct. There were question marks over two or three others in the second-half.

Lampard was denied his highly-prized goal as the clock showed three minutes to go when a well-struck shot was deflected just wide.

Chelsea had succeeded in moving the game into the West Ham half for much of the final ten minutes although there was one final heart-stopping moment with one minute of stoppage time to go as the ball fell to Ferdinand ten yards out.

A striker may have got his shot in but the young centre-half dallied and Chelsea cleared the danger.

West Ham are a side that have not scored a Premiership goal away from Upton Park since August and for most of this game, the crowd could see why.

The east v west London encounter had not lacked for atmosphere, the West Ham fans defiant in defeat, the Chelsea fans delighting in a fourth straight win over big rivals.

It is tight at the top as we head to Old Trafford.

Chelsea (4-3-3) Cudicini; Gérémi, Carvalho (Boulahrouz h-t), Terry (c), A Cole; Essien, Makelele, Lampard; Shevchenko (J Cole 67), Drogba, Robben (Mikel 83).

Goal Gérémi 20

Booked Lampard

West Ham (4-5-1) Green: Spector, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky; Tevez, Reo-Coker (c), Mullins, Bowyer (Sheringham 80), Etherington (McCartney 80); Zamora (Harewood 70).

Booked Gabbidon, Reo-Coker, Mullins, Tevez.

We Won It 5 Times · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:51 pm

Whats with the essay?

Chelsea FC · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:05 am

We Won It 5 Times wrote:

Whats with the essay?

it is the game recap of todays premiership match between Chelsea and West Ham.

Dave_Whufc · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:51 am

i think teams were evenly matched apart from Chelsea had a little extra class, we played well, but take theit for example, nobody on West Hams team could do that

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Match report: Chelsea 1 West Ham United 0

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