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West Ham 3-2 Chelsea, Premier League: Post-match reaction; player ratings

Can’t win games with defending like that

West Ham United v Chelsea FC - Premier League Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Chelsea started much better than over the weekend, creating a couple early chances before West Ham were able to get into their defensive groove. But once David Moyes’ Hammers set up their defensive lines and put their league-lowest possession tactics in effect, Chelsea were struggling to make meaningful progress.

And speaking of struggling, Chelsea continued to struggle with set pieces, especially corners. West Ham’s Tomas Soucek scored twice in quick succession on corners in the first-half, and while the first one was luckily ruled out with Michail Antonio lying on the ground offside, there was no such luck for the second one just before half-time.

In between those two incidents, Willian opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Christian Pulisic was fouled by Diop.

West Ham’s ascendancy continued after the break, and they quickly took the lead after more shambolic defending left Michail Antonio unmarked in the middle for an easy finish.

Chelsea made some changes and improved, finding an equalizer through a fantastic Willian free kick. The Blues then pressed for a winner, but were unable to find it.

Instead, a bit more shambolic defending, just for good measure, allowed Yarmolenko to find a 90th-minute winner on the counter.

Chelsea lose for the third year running at the Olympic Stadium.

Not great, Bob.

Carefree.

  • Lampard leaving Mount and Jorginho on the bench, with Barkley starting alongside Kante and Kovacic. Pulisic and Willian up front with Abraham, with the defense reverting to the foursome used against Manchester City.
  • Mount for Kovacic early in the second, with Giroud and RLC replacing Abraham and Barkley around the hour-mark as Chelsea tried to generate a comeback. Just three subs used.
  • Willian scoring again; first player in PL history to score in all twelve calendar months. Pulisic picks up the unofficial assist by winning the penalty, then a second unofficial assist by winning the free kick for Willian’s second.
  • First time in six years that Chelsea have scored at least 2 goals in six successive games
  • 3 shots on target, 3 goals for West Ham
  • West Ham do the double over Chelsea for the first time since 2003.
  • Chelsea remain fourth, failing to take advantage of Leicester also losing. Manchester United close to gap behind to just 2 points.
  • Next up: Watford at home on Saturday
  • KTBFFH

PLAYER RATINGS:

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