Palmer influence decisive as Chelsea come from behind to break Potter's spell
OWN-COLE: Cole Palmer's second half shot, which was deflected into the West Ham net for an own goal by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, gave Chelsea the win against the Hammers. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
COLE Palmer again proved to be the decisive figure as Chelsea moved back into the top four after coming from behind to claim a much needed victory that Enzo Maresca will hope draws a line under his side’s worrying recent decline.
For over an hour it looked as though Graham Potter, the former Chelsea manager, would make a winning return to Stamford Bridge as West Ham - who completed the loan signing of Evan Ferguson from Brighton earlier in the day - led through Jarrod Bowen’s first half goal.
Maresca though was rewarded for making four changes early in the second half as his side equalised through Pedro Neto and then claimed only a second win in eight league games when Palmer’s drilled effort was deflected into the goal off West Ham right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
An impressive start to the season meant Chelsea were riding high in December, at one point just two points behind leaders Liverpool and being touted as unexpected title challengers. However, an alarming dip in form since then led to them dropping out of the top four and leaving Maresca’s side in desperate need of a lift. The head coach will hope that this win can provide just that.
What Maresca most wanted was for his side to assert themselves quickly but the Italian was forced to endure a first half when his side’s lack of composure at both ends of the pitch meant it was West Ham who reached half-time ahead.
The east London side have looked more organised since Potter took charge and they looked relatively comfortable during the opening stages until Chelsea created their first real opportunity after a quarter of an hour. Bowen, back in the side after a five-week absence, lost possession deep in the Chelsea half and the home side countered quickly, eventually working the ball to Noni Madueke who curled his short narrowly wide.
That provided West Ham with a warning of Chelsea’s attacking strengths but Potter’s side responded in kind with Bowen forcing keeper Filip Jorgensen, brought into the side by Maresca in place of the error-prone Robert Sanchez, into a sharp save following a corner.
The visitors’ main focus though was on their defensive duties. Yet while Chelsea created the better first half chances, West Ham’s task was made easier by the limited imagination Maresca’s side demonstrated in the final third despite dominating possession.
Cole Palmer was uncharacteristically wasteful when he fired over from the edge of the West Ham penalty area after being set up by Nicolas Jackson. And Enzo Fernandez should have done better than pull his shot wide after Madueke had collected a misplaced pass by Mohammed Kudus and attacked the left hand side of the West Ham defence.
Chelsea were at their most threatening when they were able to press forward on the counter but Jadon Sancho became the latest Blues player to fail to find the target from a good position after Madueke had again been allowed to run forward from deep.
And the home side’s lack of conviction in front of goal was exposed when Bowen put West Ham ahead in the 42nd minute with an excellent finish. A long clearance by keeper Alphonse Areola was headed on by Thomas Soucek and, under pressure from Kudus, Chelsea defender Levi Colwill underhit an attempted back pass allowing Bowen to break clear and beat Jorgensen with a low shot inside the far post.
The goal sparked fresh life into Chelsea who finished the half positively with Palmer drawing a superb save from Areola with a free-kick that was destined for the top corner. That though wasn’t enough to silence the discontent among the home supporters, some of whom voiced their frustration at the break.
Maresca has been criticised this season for his unwillingness to make early changes but the head coach moved quickly to freshen up his side, making a double change just seven minutes into the second half and then again on the hour. And the introduction of Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto helped shift the balance of the game when Neto found the net in the 64th minute.
The winger moved onto a loose ball and slotted home after West Ham had failed to deal with Neto’s initial cross into the penalty and the on-field decision survived extensive scrutiny by VAR.
Maresca’s side were pressing forward with more purpose and tempo and ten minutes later they were ahead, helped by a slice of good fortune. Palmer picked up the ball on the left hand side of the Hammers area and drove towards the byline before drilling a cross come shot that deflected off Aaron Wan-Bissaka and looped over Areola.
Jorgensen 6; James 6 (Gusto 61, 6), Adarabioyo 6, Colwill 5, Cucurella 6; Caicedo 7, Fernandez 7; Madueke 6 (Nkunku 61, 6), Palmer 8 (Chalobah 89,6), Sancho 5 (Neto 52,7); Jackson 6 (Guiu 52,6).
Sanchez, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Acheampong,.
Areola 7; Coufal 6 (Mavrapanos 72,6), Kilman 7, Cresswell 6 (Guilherme 87, 6); Wan-Bissaka 7, Irving 7 (Orford 77,6), Soucek 7, Emerson 6 (Scarles 72,6); Kudus 6, Bowen 8, Soler 7 (Ings 77,6).
Fabianski, Foderingham, Rodriguez, Casey.
Stuart Attwell 5
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