West Ham Lose Battle At Stamford Bridge

West Ham United lost their first game since Paco Jémez was appointed as one of Nuno Espírito Santo’s first-team coaches. In Saturday’s early evening kick-off, they led 2-0 at half-time, only for new blues’ Head-Coach Liam Rosenior to see his side turn the contest on its head and earn a 3-2 victory.

Espírito Santo made one change from the home success against newly-promoted Sunderland last weekend, with El Hadji Malick Diouf and youngster Oliver Scarles swapping places from that match a week ago. New signing Adama Traoré joined Scarles and fellow Development Squad player Mohamadou Kanté amongst the substitutes.

Chelsea had faced a UEFA Champions League encounter prior to this match, whereas the Hammers were unbeaten since they were defeated in a crucial game against Nottingham Forest back on 6 January and they obviously were keen to keep that momentum going. In August’s reverse fixture, Lucas Paquetá scored early and it was a similar story here as they were ahead with only seven minutes gone when captain Jarrod Bowen beat home goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and it was greeted by loud cheers from the large travelling contingent in the away end.

The visitors weren’t content with just the one goal and quickly went searching for another. They continued to play well and went close when Crysencio Summerville set up Mateus Fernandes but unfortunately, Benoît Badiashile got a block in as he took his shot. Thankfully, the move didn’t break down, as Valentín Castellanos could have extended his team’s advantage after being played in by Bowen, but the Argentine had his effort saved by Sánchez at his near post.

Somehow, the hosts were out of sorts and everything that they were trying just wasn’t working. Although they looked threatening from set pieces, visiting goalkeeper Alphonse Areola dealt with everything that was sent his way.

The Irons put themselves into a great position to grab another “big” result nine minutes before the break as Summerville scored his fourth goal in as many games, as he finished off a great team move involving Fernandes, Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka with the Dutchman giving Sánchez no chance.

When referee Anthony Taylor blew the whistle for the break, I bet that Espírito Santo’s players couldn’t believe their luck, as they were halfway to clinching another “statement” win.

Rosenior’s side were in the same position as they were in their game against Italian outfit Napoli in midweek and there were even boos from the home faithful, as their team left the pitch.

The home Head-Coach knew he had to do something if his team were to get anything out of this encounter, so he made a triple change, as Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and João Pedro all came on to replace Badiashile, Jorrel Hato and Alejandro Garnacho.

Chelsea looked better after the changes were made but the Irons remained resilient in the opening stages of the second-half, as Sánchez did well to stop Fernandes from scoring a third.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion stopper then thwarted Bowen as the skipper was on the end of a free-kick from Fernandes.

With thirty five minutes still to play, the ever-loyal fan base thought they were edging for closer to what would have been only their fifth top-flight victory of the campaign but there were suddenly signs of life from Chelsea, as they fashioned a chance through Liam Delap after he met Cucurella’s cross, the East Londoners were just thankful that the striker was unable to direct his effort goalwards.

A minute later however, there was a scare for the Claret and Blue Army, as Areola was beaten, meaning that the Frenchman would still have to wait at least another week to claim his first clean sheet of the season. Fofana had set Pedro away and the striker headed past the Frenchman to reduce the arrears.

That goal brought a definite shift in momentum and, by this point, Rosenior’s side were totally in control. However, it was thanks to a superb save from Areola that the Blues weren’t level, as he kept out a great effort from Moisés Caicedo.

On sixty seven minutes, Espírito Santo made his first change with Max Kilman entering the fray for Pablo Felipe. Castellanos then had the chance to put the Irons further in front but unfortunately, he failed to test Sánchez.

Having been so comfortable it earlier in the match, the Hammers were now wishing that they could have taken one of their other numerous first-half chances as Cucurella had managed to level the scores with twenty minutes remaining. The move started with Pedro Neto crossing but fortunately, Malo Gusto was unable to force the ball over the line. Kilman then hit his crossbar, before the Spanish defender produced a superb diving header, which Areola couldn’t keep out.

Six minutes later, West Ham shuffled their pack again, as Callum Wilson replaced Castellanos.

Having got themselves back on the terms, Rosenior’s men were keen to grab all three points, as they now putting their opponents under relentless pressure.

Espírito Santo made a double change with nine minutes of normal time to play as Traoré and Scarles came on for both Diouf and Bowen.

West Ham still could have wrapped up the points late on but they missed a golden chance when Jean-Clair Todibo hit the post, following a cross from Tomáš Souček.

There was more drama as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time and instead of the visitors taking the points back to the East End with them, Enzo Fernández completed the most unlikely comeback to break West Ham’s hearts.

Not only did the result end badly his team but Espírito Santo will now go into next weekend’s crucial game away at newly-promoted Burnley without Todibo as he was given a straight red card for grabbing Pedro around the neck.

West Ham will look to atone for this result and get their Premier League survival bid back on track by achieving the double over the Clarets at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. Before then though, Monday sees the end of the January transfer window. If any more deals are announced between now and the 7pm deadline, then this site will provide all the latest details.