Antonio Conte’s men marched on at the top of the Premier League table, in a masterful display of defensive grit and devastating counter attacks.
Chelsea were generally careless in possession and struggled to create many chances in the opening exchanges, and West Ham’s tactic was very clear from the start – lump balls into the Chelsea area for Andy Carroll to latch onto.
But Chelsea’s reinforced backline stood firm, dominating Carroll from the get go, and starving him of any opportunities. From one end to the other the Blues broke with ruthless efficiency, with Eden Hazard rounding Darren Randolph to finish off a swift counter attack and in turn the title race as a contest.
Chelsea did, however, continue to toil in possession, but a lack of intensity on behalf of West Ham allowed N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas to dominate despite their somewhat pitiful pass completion stats.
The second half saw West Ham begin to press Chelsea’s midfield with the sort of punishable fervency that would ordinarily have unsettled the opposition. But when you’re facing a team of Chelsea’s poise and confidence, you’re always on the back foot, and all it took was the beguiling knee of Diego Costa to double the scoreline.
The Hammer’s press did pay dividends right at the deaths Manuel Lanzini was left with the freedom of East London to fire beyond Courtois – his 12th goal in 15 appearances against the London-based opposition.
