West Ham 1-1 Chelsea: Match report, player ratings, expert analysis, fan reaction and more

Jan 1970

Chelsea offered a glimpse of what could be to come under Graham Potter, but had to settle for a hard-fought draw at the London Stadium in a result that suited neither West Ham or the visitors.

Potter's side were the stronger side from the outset, and Joao Felix saw an early goal ruled out for offside as the Blues pushed for an opener.

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Injury to Lucas Paqueta further hampered West Ham's chances of getting into the game, and the Blues grabbed the goal that their early dominance deserved when deadline day addition Enzo Fernandez found fellow January addition Joao Felix at the back post, who provided a delicate volleyed finish.

Joao Felix fires home his first Premier League goal! ?
The assist from Enzo Fernandez ??? pic.twitter.com/kp3c3bBV5K

Kai Havertz thought that he had doubled the lead minutes later, only for the offside flag to come to West Ham's rescue once more as Chelsea threatened to run away with the game in the early stages of the first half.

West Ham spluttered into life, however. An attempted backheel from Michail Antonio forced a fine save from Kepa, but their second shot on target proved too good for the Spaniard as Emerson Palmeiri stole in at the back post against his former club to bundle in an equaliser.

Emerson equalises for West Ham against his former club! ?
Great flick from Jarrod Bowen and he's in the right place at the right time! ? pic.twitter.com/V7GhwZrQqh

The second half began in a much more even fashion, with Chelsea dominating the ball but West Ham looking dangerous on the counter-attack. It was a 45 minutes devoid of many clear chances, with neither side managing to test the goalkeeper for much of the encounter.

With ten minutes to play, Tomas Soucek thought that he had handed his side the lead, turning in after Kepa had saved well from Delan Rice, only for VAR to once more rule out a goal, this time in Chelsea's favour, and leave the game drifting towards a stalemate.

It was then the turn of the Blues to feel aggrieved by the technology, with a seemingly stonewall handball by Tomas Soucek inside the West Ham box not given on the pitch, and failing to be overturned by the video assistant.

It ended all square, a result that suited neither side with the Blues remaining ninth in the table, and West Ham still too close to the drop zone for their and David Moyes' liking.

Player Ratings

West Ham (5-2-2-1)

Substitutes

Chelsea (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes

Expert Analysis

"We're winning away, how sh*t must you be, we're winning away," chant Chelsea's away end. No away win since mid-October for the Blues, of course. #CFC #WHCHE

Chelsea are bossing this game but can a West Ham player PLEASE pressure Enzo Fernandez, he's played 25 passes already, including an assist, but he's getting so much room in pockets of space.

1-1 Emerson against his old club. Ironically, error from Cucurella put Chelsea under pressure. #CFC #WHUCHE

#Chelsea have named seven starters below the age of 24 against West Ham [Madueke, Badiashile, Fernandez, Mudryk, James, Felix, Havertz] - their most ever in a starting XI for a Premier League game.
[via @OptaJoe]

Felix touch map vs WHU after 50 minutes - he's been absolutely everywhere. pic.twitter.com/5kGXjsfNJJ

Chelsea have looked unconvincing defending set pieces throughout this match.

Two wins in 13 PL games for Chelsea.

Fan reaction

Great response from West Ham, but please don't sit off a player of Enzo Fernandez's qualities and allow him to create from deeper areas. It won't end well.

If that is Trent with Reece James' positioning there he gets absolutely crucified

A half that shows the best and worst of what Chelsea are capable of. Also shows why we are crying out for a physical 9 - would allow us to play up into them rather than constantly passing out from the back.

Joao Felix looked like the best player on the field in that first half.

Declan Rice is absolutely outrageous. 200m player.

This referee is just an utter utter joke.

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