West Ham Utd 0-3 Chelsea

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 23rd November 2013

It was a case of men against boys at the Boleyn Ground this afternoon as a goal-shy West Ham meekly surrendered to Chelsea.

The Hammers were distinctly second best on an afternoon in which the gulf in class was all too evident, as Chelsea continued their title charge.

Meanwhile West Ham, who have still won just once in the Premier League since the opening day of the season find themselves out of the relegation zone on goal difference only.

The visitors took the lead shortly after the quarter-hour mark when Guy Demel made an uncharacteristic error, underhitting a short back pass to Jussi Jaaskelainen. West Ham's old nemesis Frank Lampard slotted the resulting penalty high into the top corner to give Chelsea the lead.

James Collins, who gave away the free kick that led to Norwich's second goal a fortnight ago was culpable once again for the second, when his decision to leave his defensive zone allowed Oscar the freedom of Upton Park, from which he slotted home from 18 yards.

So unenamoured was manager Sam Allardyce by his team's display that both Jack Collison and Joe Cole were hauled off with five minutes of the half remaining, to be replaced by Mo Diame and Modibo Maiga, whose most recent goal came in this fixture last December.

West Ham provided very little in the final third, although a 30-yard run from Ravel Morrison during which he briefly threatened to re-enact his goal at Tottenham at least got the crowd on their feet.

The Hammers continued to frustrate the home crowd after the break with very little to get the supporters excited. Modibo Maiga almost made contact with an attempted scissor kick towards the end whilst Petr Cech even had to make a save in the closing minutes.

However the game was well and truly over by that point thanks to Lampard's second of the day with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

Catching West Ham on the counter, the ball found it way back to Lampard ten yards from goal and the former Hammer slammed it into the corner to complete the rout.


West Ham Utd vs Chelsea: Match Facts

West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, Nolan (Jarvis), Tomkins, Collison (Diame 40), Morrison, Noble, O'Brien, Collins, Demel, Downing, J.Cole (Maiga 40).

Subs not used: McCartney, Jarvis, Adrian, Taylor, C.Cole.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar (Schurrle 90+2), Mikel, Hazard (Essien 90+4), Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Eto'o (Ba 79).

Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Mata, Willian.

Referee: Chris Foy.

Referee's Assistants: G Beswick, M McDonough.

Fourth Official: Lee Mason.

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