Kezman’s Hammer blow

Chelsea 1 West Ham 0

Kezman finished off a delightful pass from former West Ham midfielder Joe Cole to fire the ball beyond Jim Walker and into the net.

The former PSV Eindhoven striker had spurned three glorious first-half chances.

Chelsea should have won by a bigger margin but former Hammer Frank Lampard missed a 77th minute spot-kick after Arjen Robben had been felled by Tomas Repka.

Before the penalty could be taken however, Kezman was forced to leave the field for treatment to a head injury caused by a missile, believed to be a coin, which appeared to be thrown from a section of West Ham fans.

The injury marred an enthralling tie at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho making numerous changes from the side which demolished Blackburn in the Premiership at the weekend.

Hat-trick hero Eidur Gudjohnsen were relegated to the bench along with Lampard and Ireland’s Damien Duff - meaning only Joe Cole started against his former club.

West Ham struggled to find any space as Chelsea pressed forward in search of an early goal.

Cole sent Kezman clear of the visitors’ defence but the striker pushed the ball too far wide of the onrushing Walker.

West Ham began to stem the blue tide on the half-hour and Adam Nowland sent a 30-yard shot over the bar in a rare foray into the last third.

Walker pulled off a fine save from Cole’s 18-yard drive after the ball ran free to the Chelsea midfielder in the 36th minute.

The resultant corner saw Kezman send a header beyond the far post. He then spurned another opening a minute from the interval.

However, in the 56th minute, the striker broke the deadlock - with Cole the architect - firing a left-foot shot beyond Walker and into the net off the left-hand upright.

Chelsea should have made it two on 77 minutes when Robben was brought down by Repka inside the area. As substitute Lampard prepared for the spot-kick, Kezman appeared to be hit by a missile. Lampard then saw his penalty saved by Walker.

CHELSEA: Cudicini, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Gallas, Babayaro, Geremi, Parker (Lampard 68), Tiago, Kezman, Robben (Gudjohnsen 82), Cole (Duff 64).

WEST HAM: Walker, Mullins, Ferdinand, Repka, Brevett, Etherington (Rebrov 85), Nowland (Noble 65), Reo-Coker, Lomas, Harewood, Zamora (Hutchison 83).

Ref: A D’Urso.