Chelsea dominant and completely in control in their 2-0 win over West Ham
Chelsea beat West Ham with two goals from John Terry and Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge yesterday and maintained their three point lead at the top of the Premier League. In my view, it was one of our most impressive performances of the season.
As we approached the Christmas period, you looked at our first two fixtures of the quadruple that Jose Mourinho had referred to previously and thought that Stoke away and West Ham at home are both potential banana skins. Chelsea have delivered two very different but fantastic performances and have taken six points.
Stoke was all about being disciplined, solid at the back and playing counter attacking football. Chelsea played so well on Monday that Stoke couldn't cope with us; an outstanding result and performance.
West Ham, however, was a totally different story and to say that Chelsea dominated the fourth-placed team in the league (at kick-off) was an understatement. Chelsea were so, so impressive and but for a few moments late on, controlled the game with ease.
Andy Carroll who has been playing well, influencing games and scoring goals was a passenger in the game and replaced after an hour or so for being totally ineffective. John Terry and Gary Cahill dealt with the threat he poses with ease and, as a result, West Ham couldn't get the ball to Carroll to feed off of him.
Time and time again Chelsea won the ball, gained possession and attacked the opposition. Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Cesc Fabregas were all involved, rotating positions and found space to cause West Ham problems.
In fact, Oscar should have put Chelsea in front after only a couple of minutes but he blasted the ball over the bar from close range when it looked easier to score. Hazard and Willian were both denied by the outstanding Adrian in goal.
It's safe to say that every single person worked their socks off for the team and no one had a bad game. Although Courtois did not have a lot to do until late on, when called upon he came out and collected crosses and released the ball early to start our attacks.
John Terry scored his second goal in two games sliding the ball home from close range after a Cesc Fabregas corner was headed towards goal by Diego Costa.
Costa then picked up his thirteenth league goal of the season in the second half after Nemanja Matic broke up a West Ham attack and Eden Hazard passed the ball to Costa thirty yards from goal. Costa turned his marker inside out (and two other defenders that joined in) and fired a left foot shot low into the bottom right corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. Costa was immense in every way!!
What really impressed me in this one was the team performance. Our movement off the ball was outstanding and the player with the ball always had at least two options to pass to. We worked hard once again without the ball to win it back and everyone played their part.
Right now Chelsea look as though they will be difficult to stop but, it's important to keep our feet on the ground and take the next game as it comes. Southampton away follows this one tomorrow and then a trip to North London to take on Tottenham.
We are half way through the quadruple of games we had all looked at and hoped we would come out in a good position in the league. If we can follow up the Stoke and West Ham wins with two more, that would be fantastic.
Let's hope we go out there and do it. For now, we are playing well, defending well and scoring goals. Roll on Southampton!