toptop
Chelsea
moved 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table after a 2-1 win at
West Ham on Monday Night Football.
A flowing counter-attack was expertly finished by Eden Hazard on 25 minutes at
the London Stadium and the visitors doubled the score when Diego Costa
capitalised on poor West Ham defending to turn home Cesc Fabregas' corner.
A stoppage-time strike by Manuel Lanzini reduced the deficit but it came too
late for the Hammers to stage a comeback as Chelsea held on to extend their lead
atop the table.
Antonio Conte's side are now 10 points ahead of second-place Tottenham and 11
clear of Manchester City, who could cut that advantage to eight with victory
over Stoke, live on Sky Sports on Wednesday.
Chelsea welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge next in their FA Cup
quarter-final on Monday.
West Ham remain 11th and travel to Bournemouth on Saturday in the Premier
League.
Andy Carroll replaced the suspended Michail Antonio in Slaven Bilic's only
change from the 1-1 draw at Watford.
The England striker typified the Hammers' effort in the first half, crashing
into aerial challenges and drawing blood after one particularly firm collision
with Victor Moses.
But the hosts were undone by the game's first moment of attacking quality as
Chelsea, who were unchanged from their 3-1 win over Swansea, took the lead with
their first shot of the match.
The break was led by the irrepressible N'Golo Kante, who won possession and sent
Hazard clear. The Belgian exchanged passes with Pedro before skipping around
Darren Randolph and sliding in his 11th goal of the season.
Lanzini, making his 50th Premier League appearance, lashed over as West Ham
looked to respond before half-time but their opponents went closest with a
flurry of chances.
Moses and Pedro were denied by Aaron Cresswell and Randolph respectively after
Costa had wasted a promising chance created by Hazard.
The Spain striker made no mistake shortly after the break, converting off his
thigh from a Fabregas delivery.
A miscommunication at the front post between Carroll and Pedro Obiang allowed
Costa to steal in for his 49th Premier League goal since joining Chelsea, and
his 17th of the season.
West Ham's first effort on target came after 61 minutes when Sofiane Feghouli
fired past Thibaut Courtois only for Moses to clear on the line.
It was a difficult night overall for the Hammers, who lost Winston Reid to
injury midway through the second half and expended plenty of energy against a
well-drilled Chelsea back three.
The visitors almost grabbed a third through Costa on the break but a fantastic
fingertip stop by Randolph denied the striker.
A spell of late West Ham pressure finally yielded reward for the hosts when
Lanzini rifled low past Courtois in the 92nd minute but Chelsea saw out time in
the closing stages.
Player ratings
West Ham: Randolph (7), Kouyate (6), Fonte (5), Reid (6),
Cresswell (6), Noble (6), Obiang (5), Feghouli (5), Snodgrass (5), Lanzini (7),
Carroll (5)
Subs used: Ayew (6), Byram (5), Fernandes (5)
Chelsea: Courtois (7), Azpilicueta (7), Luiz (7), Cahill (7),
Moses (7), Kante (8), Fabregas (7), Alonso (7), Pedro (7), Costa (8), Hazard (8)
Subs used: Matic (6), Willian (6), Kouma (6)
Man of the match: Eden Hazard
Teams
West Ham United Randolph, Kouyate, Fonte, Reid (Byram 64),
Cresswell, Noble (c) (Fernandes 77), Snodgrass, Obiang, Feghouli (Ayew 64),
Carroll, Lanzini
Subs Not Used Adrian, Collins, Masuaku, Calleri
Booked
Goals Lanzini 90+3
Chelsea Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill (c), Moses (Zouma
76), Kante, Fabregas, Alonso, Pedro (Matic 65), Costa, Hazard (Willian 75)
Subs Not Used Begovic, Terry, Loftus-Cheek, Batshiayi
Booked Fabregas
Goals Hazard 25, Costa 50
Attendance 56,984
Referee Andre Marriner