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It might be far from a vintage performance, but they sure enjoyed that one — Chelsea‘s unconvincing victory over West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Monday night was a stark reminder of the challenges facing Graham Potter’s side. Potter, who made his first return to Stamford Bridge since he was sacked by Chelsea after just seven ‘painful’ months in charge, watched as his new team pushed the Blues all the way, only to be denied by two scrappy goals in the second half.
The match, which kicked off in a ‘not so ideal’ three hours before the transfer window closed, was a curious affair with all shades of uncertainty and business. Chelsea had already agreed to loan out João Félix to Milan, while West Ham were dealing with the aftermath of a botched recruitment drive under their former technical director, Tim Steidten. The Hammers’ squad was threadbare, with Lucas Paquetá and Edson Álvarez joining the injured contingent and Evan Ferguson not registered yet after joining on loan from Brighton.
Despite their depleted squad, West Ham gave a good account of themselves, particularly in the first half. Jarrod Bowen’s well-taken goal just before halftime was the least they deserved, and it was no surprise when Chelsea struggled to respond. The goal came after a mistake by Levi Colwill, who was forced into a wayward backpass by Mohammed Kudus. The ball ran through to Bowen, who caressed a lovely shot beyond Filip Jörgensen.
The Blues were lackluster for long spells, and it took the introduction of Pedro Neto and Marc Guiu to spark some life into their attack. Neto’s equalizer, which came after a messy scramble in the box, further showed as chaotic the Hammers’ defense can get. The ball was turned back by Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernández’s shot was blocked, and Neto arrived to fire in the rebound.
Cole Palmer, who was heavily marked throughout the game, finally found some space to operate, and his cross, which took a deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, proved to be the decisive moment. It was a cruel blow for West Ham, who had given everything to try and secure a point.
Chelsea’s victory, which took them into the top four, was not convincing, but it was a step in the right direction in their aspirations for Champions League football next season. For West Ham, the defeat, a damning one, was a harsh reminder of the challenges they face and what still lies ahead, but they can take solace from their performance, which showed that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the Premier League.
