
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United
Monday, 3rd February 2025
by Chris Wilkerson
A compact and organised West Ham left Stamford Bridge empty-handed after a slice of luck and a side of refereeing incompetence helped Chelsea to a 2-1 victory.
On a deadline day that saw The Hammers bring in Evan Ferguson on loan, and recall James Ward-Prowse from Nottingham Forest, Graham Potter's side will feel robbed of at least a single point after a fine display was unrewarded and their 1-0 lead slowly overturned by the fortuitous home side.Jarrod Bowen gave the visitors the lead in the first half, capitalising on a Colwill mistake, but a controversial Neto goal was followed quickly by Wan-Bissaka deflecting a Palmer cross over his own goalkeeper and into the back of the net to round off a deflating return to Stamford Bridge for Potter, although he will take plenty heart in the performance of his side.
Injuries struck once again as both Paqueta and Alvarez were ruled out, but the manager was grateful to be able to field captain Jarrod Bowen for the first time since taking charge, returning to lead the line as striker, whilst fans' favourite Andy Irving started his first Premier League game.
The hosts started on top, but generally found it tough to break through a very organised West Ham, who stayed compact in their 3-4-3 shape and looked well-prepared for the occasion. Whereas the start against Aston Villa had exposed weaknesses in both Cresswell and Coufal in their wide-centre back positions, the extra time on the training ground had again seen improvements, with both looking more comfortable and the shape holding far better.
The Hammers were able to make the middle of the pitch incredibly congested, and it limited the influence of Cole Palmer to a point of negating him, Chelsea could find little luck passing through it, and their best chances came from quick turnovers of possession leading to breakaways.
This is how the first real chance of the game came, with West Ham losing possession and Chelsea quickly countering. Jackson carried through the middle and played a clever pass wide to Madueke, who drove at Kilman with speed, shifted it inside a little, onto his left, and curled for the far corner, but his effort sailed wide.
Potter's side were limited themselves, their plan clearly to stay tight and counter when given the opportunity. A corner nearly proved fruitful, after Bowen missed the first header only to find the ball ricochet to his feet, but his shot through bodies was blocked wide just short of the 20-minute mark.
Palmer soon had his only moment of note from the first half, running onto a quick layoff from Jackson on the edge of the box, only to blast his effort over with time to do much better.
Another chance came from sloppy possession by West Ham. After uncomfortably playing the ball around the right channel, Kudus broke free and looked to be able to start an attack, only to volley his pass behind Emerson and into the run of Madueke. He drove into the box and squared for Enzo Fernandez's run, only for the Argentine to pass wide of goal as he tried to steer one into the far corner.
Cresswell soon made a vital interception in the box, cutting out a squared ball that was destined for Jackson in front of goal, and then minutes later created half a chance for Kudus with a long freekick from his own half. The ball bounced just into the right-side of the Chelsea box, but Kudus's volley on his weaker foot was right at Jorgensen.
It was a lapse in possession that saw the deadlock broken, but this time it was in Chelsea blue that the ball was carelessly given away.
A long goal kick by Areola was flicked on by Soucek into the right channel. Colwill gathered, but under pressure from Kudus, he panicked and played a blind pass square, only to see the ball go behind his defence and into the path of a pouncing Bowen, who burst forward gleefully.
The forward showed all his goalscoring composure to gather the ball and position himself to curl a low drive around Jorgensen to his right and nestle his effort perfectly into the bottom corner to give his side a 1-0 lead three minutes before the end of the half.
But Chelsea came inches away from a leveller, the fingertips of Alphonse Areola denying a pearler of a freekick from Palmer on the stroke of half-time.
After Kilman went through Jackson as the striker backed in, Chelsea had a freekick from 25 yards out. Up stepped Palmer, curling it with pace over the wall and towards the top corner to Areola's left.
Sneaking in just under the bar, the ball looked destined for goal only for the stretching Areola to get just enough on it to tip the effort over the ball and keep his clean sheet intact.
In a cagey first-half, The Hammers had taken advantage of a mistake, whereas Chelsea had wasted their own counters.
It stayed much the same into the second half, with West Ham disciplined in their approach and comfortable staying compact and asking Chelsea to try break them down. There was little space to play in, and Chelsea looked to be short of ideas as Maresca threw on Guiu, Neto, Gusto and Nkunku after 15 minutes of watching his side create nothing.
But when you're struggling to break a team down, a heapful of luck and a charitable referee can work wonders.
And that is what Chelsea got with a smidgen over 25 minutes left to play. The move started with a quite ridiculous foul on Bowen on the halfway line, Colwill running across to barge him over as the West Ham captain tried to close Tosin down. But it was ignored, and 20 seconds later, Chelsea had levelled.
The ball was moved out to the right wing, where Neto was given too much time and space to curl a cross in to the far post as he cut inside. Cucurella headed it back into the middle, where Fernandez waited. The midfielder fired at goal, but was thwarted by a Coufal block in front of the line.
It was only the briefest of respites, though, as Neto sprinted onto the loose ball in the box and smashed home the rebound through Areola's legs as the goalkeeper sprinted across his goal line to try and make the block.
On came VAR, first stopping to check whether Guiu had made contact before Cucurella, which would have seen the Spaniard offside. They froze the frame right where it looked like it was touching the striker's head, but decided they could not prove so and moved on to their next issue.
It was Guiu again, this time standing in an offside position in front of Areola and behind Coufal. Directly behind Coufal, who had to block the shot going at goal. But this was deemed not to be interfering with play, because VAR seemingly knows that Coufal could not have been making that decision based on a striker standing behind him.
All the while, they never checked the foul on Bowen, deeming it too far back in the sequence to matter. Funny that. Not Cornet somehow fouling a goalkeeper by being cleared out by him, but unsurprising that, yet again, VAR seems to find a way.
It didn't come to the help of the referee moments later when Enzo Fernandez lunged off the ground and smashed his studs into the ankle of Irving in the Chelsea half, which saw the midfielder only booked. Had Irving rolled around and played the injury, it would have been interesting.
The Scot soon set up a Kudus chance with a beautiful, first-time left-footed cross curled around the back of the Chelsea defence, which the Ghanaian dived to head at goal, smacking the outside of the post, although replays showed he had likely moved a step early and offside anyway.
It was Potter's turn to make changes with just under 20 to play, with Mavropanos and Scarles replacing Coufal and Emerson. But minutes later, Chelsea had the lead.
Luck, again, played a huge part. After a cross from the right looped high and over those in the box, Chelsea recycled possession outside the area to Palmer.
The midfielder delayed as he looked for a pass, and then chose to drive down the side of the area, catching Wan-Bissaka a little flat-footed. He smashed a low one across the box, only to see Wan-Bissaka's attempted block divert the ball at goal, looping it over Areola as the goalkeeper moved for the cross, rifling into the far corner to give Chelsea a lead they had never warranted.
Mavropanos tested his own goalkeeper from a Chelsea freekick as the Greek defender flicked on a cross at the near post, and Potter rolled the dice again as he threw on Ings and Orford for Soler and Irving.
Palmer smashed one wide in a decent position outside the box as West Ham put more bodies forward and space began to open up, but the last big chance of the game fell to The Hammers in stoppage time.
It was started by Mavropanos and led by Guilherme, the Brazilian given the last few minutes as the manager withdrew Cresswell and threw on his last attacking option. The teenager carried with pace through the heart of the Chelsea midfield and fed it wide to Bowen on the right of the box.
He stood up his man and squared for Kudus inside the area, and the Ghanaian did well to turn and swivel to shoot low at goal, only for his effort to catch the trailing leg of Tosin's desperate block and fly away from goal.
Mavropanos had time to smash a low drive right at Jorgensen from outside the box with others waiting in better positions, but the points were Chelsea's. A brave and organised performance deserved more, but West Ham went away with nothing but pride.
The Hammers have next weekend off as the fourth round of the FA Cup commences, leaving Potter with two weeks to work with his squad and get players fit. The hope is that Summerville, Paqueta and Alvarez should return, Whilst Todibo is in with a chance, and both Ferguson and Ward-Prowse will be registered to suddenly give the manager an actual squad to pick from in time for the visit of Brentford.
Manager's Rating
Graham Potter: 8/10 With options limited, Potter had his team drilled and disciplined, playing deeper than previous games and very compact, but looking absolutely sure of themselves. Deserved at least a point, and he has again shown the importance of a good coach, the contrast to the previous game against Chelsea was stark.




Player Ratings
Alphonse AreolaA couple very good saves, but will likely be frustrated with how the equaliser went through his legs as the goalkeeper ran across his line like a man who didn't know he could dive. His passing is not comfortable, but he did find Soucek for the flick-on that led to the goal.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Failed to really make any impact going forward and looked tired late on. The own-goal was unlucky, but the defender also failed to get out to his man fast enough and then looked slow as he was taken on.

Emerson Palmieri
Poor in possession and a little too lax with his man, against both Madueke and then Neto.

Max Kilman
Kilman had been written off by a good few this season as a meek, mild-mannered defender in need of a real organiser with him. The last two games, with full backs either side of him in the centre of defence, he has proven himself capable of leading. Maybe disorganisation from above was a bigger issue?

Vladimir Coufal
Looked much more comfortable in this game and it's a performance that lets Potter know that Coufal may be more than just an option to give Wan-Bissaka a rest.

Aaron Cresswell
You can see how he suits Potter, his confidence in possession has always been a key strength of his game, helping West Ham pass out from the back. He's not perfect, but one excellent interception in the first half saved a goal.

Andy Irving
Seemed to do a good job rattling the cages of some Chelsea players, and a little less honesty could have seen him get Fernandez sent off. One very good cross for Kudus aside, he lacked an impact on the ball.

Tomas Soucek
Clearances galore, loads of headers won, a battling performance from a man who laughs at those who question his place in the West Ham team. His passing is improving and he's protecting the defence well, still dropping in as that spare centre back to defend crosses.

Carlos Soler
Disciplined and energetic, he grew into things a little as time went on and showed excellent speed to round James and force a booking. It's not quite there yet, but he is looking better.

Mohammed Kudus
Still lacking a little bit of the consistency that made him a constant threat last season, but Kudus is definitely improving with time under Potter. His energy looks better, and he was unlucky not to equalise.

Jarrod Bowen
A great effort on his comeback, full of energy and graft. Took his goal excellently, both with the instinct to get onto the loose pass and the way he shaped himself to curl it around the goalkeeper.

Substitutes
Ollie Scarles(Emerson 72') Neto beat him with ease once, and nearly another time, only for the youngster to tackle back well.

Konstantinos Mavropanos
(Coufal 72') Nearly headed into his own goal and then wasted an opportunity to keep an attack going by instead shooting with his weaker foot from range.

Danny Ings
(Soler 77') Ran a lot and worked hard, but made no impact on the game.

Lewis Orford
(Irving 77') Looked composed on the ball and passed well.

Luis Guilherme
(Creswell 87') The best he's shown in a West Ham shirt, albeit he's barely featured. Used his pace and showed a glimpse of why he has been highly rated, and enough to leave fans wondering whether he deserves more of a chance than he seems to be being given.

Lukasz Fabianski
Did not play.

Wes Foderingham
Did not play.

Kaelen Casey
Did not play.

Guido Rodriguez
Did not play.

Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Emerson Palmieri, Max Kilman, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Andy Irving, Tomas Soucek, Carlos Soler, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen.Goals: Jarrod Bowen 42 .
Booked: Andy Irving 0 .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Chelsea: Jørgensen, James (Gusto 61), Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernández, Madueke (Nkunku 61), Palmer (Chalobah 90), Sancho (Neto 52), Jackson (Guiu 52).
Subs not used: Sanchez, George, Acheampong, Dewsbury-Hall.
Goals: Neto (64), Wan-Bissaka (og 74).
Booked: James, Fernandez, Palmer.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Stuart Atwell.
Attendance: 0.
Man of the Match: Jarrod Bowen.