Palmer inspires Chelsea comeback but it's an own goal that ultimately down rugged West Ham 2-1
By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 2 v West Ham 1
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A fortunate own goal secured all three points for Chelsea as they came from behind to beat a tough, organised West Ham 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues move back into the Champions League places with a fourth position, while the Hammers are 10 points clear of third from bottom Leicester City, who have 17 points.
This match was Chelsea's season summed up in 90 minutes – terrible at times, fluid and aggressive in attack at other times and mediocre in-between..
As for the Hammers under Graham Potter, they will become smarter in attack and stronger in defence.
For those hoping for a blood and guts London derby, the early stages were a good indicator.
Lots of niggly nips and tucks and the odd thunderous challenge.
The West Ham fans were also in good voice – lambasting a certain ex-West Ham midfielder and Chelsea legend one minute and encouraging one of their own Andy Irving.
As for the game, Chelsea's Moises Caicedo nicked the ball off Jarrod Bowen and then fed Nicolas Jackson. The striker raced forward before passing to Noni.
The winger took a couple of strides before trying a curling left-footer. But it was wide of Alphonse Areola's right post.
Filip Jorgensen, back between the Chelsea sticks in place of dropped Robert Sanchez, had a bit of a fluff early on but was on hand to deflect the ball away from goal on 18 minutes, preventing Bowen from nicking a near post effort.
Enzo racing onto a pass by Noni, on 31 minutes, sliced the ball wide of goal, as Chelsea's poor finishing showed no signs of improving.
Sancho had a curler five minutes from time, but still it was no shots on goal.
West Ham decided they would have a go, and Levi Colwill's terrible back pass was intercepted by Bowen, who took two touches before showing the Chelsea players where the goal was and slide the ball home comfortably.
Areola produced a wonderful save as it looked as if Cole Palmer's free-kick was heading towards the back of the net. But the fingertips came to the fore and the ball was deflected over the crossbar.
There were no changes by either side at half-time.
Maresca had already seen enough in the opening minute to suggest the Blues would not be getting through the West Ham back five, and opted to bring on Pedro Neto and Marc Guiu – off went ineffectual Jackson and Sancho.
They were soon followed by Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto, off went James, and Noni on 60 minutes.
Thankfully for Maresca those changes resulted in the equalizer.
While Neto was initially thrown over to the left, the exit of Noni brought him to the right and he was on the spot to lash the ball in to the net.
Then VAR intervened, suggesting Cucurella was offside.
After a couple of minutes waiting, eventually, it was decided he was not offside and the goal stood.
Mohammed Kudus then smacked the post with a powerful header on 70 minutes as the Blues were cut open at the back.
But the turnaround was complete on 74 minutes when Palmer collected the ball off Cucurella on the left. He raced to the byline, and left fly with a left-footer and the ball zipped off Aaron Wan-Bissaka's boot, sending the ball looping into the far side of the net. Wan-Bissaka was credited with an own goal.
Ex-Blues boss Graham Potter made multiple substitutions to try and rescue the situation.
But while pressing to the end, the added seven minutes were not enough.
Teams: Chelsea: Jorgensen, Cucurella, Tosin, Levi, Enzo, Noni, Jackson, Sancho, Palmer, James, Caicedo
Subs; Sanchez, Neto, Nkunku, Dewsbury-Hall, Chalobah, Gusto, George, Acheampong, Guiu
West Ham: Areola, Cresswell, Soler, Coufal, Kudus, Bowen, Kilman, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka, Emerson, Irving
Subs: Fabianski, Foderingham, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Ings, Rodriguez, Casey, Scarles, Orford
Referee: Stuart Attwell
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