CHELSEA secured an important win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
A powerful Thiago Silva header put the Blues in front before two Tammy Abraham goals in two minutes made the game safe.
However Ben Chilwell went off injured early on in a blow to the West Londoners.
THAT’S A WRAP
Thanks for joining us for the last Premier League game before Christmas.
Here’s our match report, courtesy of Andy Dillon.
MOYES SPEAKS
West Ham boss David Moyes says: “I didn’t think we deserved that, but obviously we conceded three goals, so it’s the correct score.
“I think we had chances as well, we had a lot of the ball.
“It was a big test and I thought for long spells we did well. But the truth is we didn’t do enough in the box.
“They’re a threat and have some power- we tried to prepare for it, but we got caught out early.
“You’re playing against a good team and you know it’s a tough game. It was difficult to not get anything in our favour tonight, that was unlucky.
“I thought there were a bundle of [decisions] that were wrong tonight.
“I thought it was a big test, while we haven’t got the result, we’ve shown that we can give big sides a game.”
ON HIS STRIKER CHOICE
When asked about why Abraham was chosen over Giroud, Lampard says: “The individual form would have been a tough call on Oli as he’s been playing well.
“The pair have different attributes; I just felt with West Ham, where they’re solid and well organised, that Tammy’s natural ability to run behind them would suit us and it did tonight.
“We judged it on the opposition to a degree and Tammy came up trumps, but it’s nothing on Oli as he always turns up and performs so well for us.”
LAMPS SPEAKS
Speaking on Sky, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says: “The game was hard.
“We started really well, but the period in the second half, we didn’t get much of the ball, but Kovacic got us more on the ball when he came on.
“It felt like West Ham could hurt us at any moment; it certainly wasn’t a vintage performance tonight, but it’s good to get a win after two defeats.
“This season is different to every other season., It’s hard at a club with expectations like we have.
“When you’re winning and unbeaten for a long time things move swimmingly and it’ smuch easier to manage- but I have to be the one that drives it.
“There was a bit of tension going into the game today, in a good way, which I was happy about., They showed some real grit tonight.”
ABRAHAM SPEAKS
Tammy Abrahm speaks on SKy Sport, he says: “[The win] is much more like it, the boys said before that we need a performance and we did that today.
“My job is to help the team as much as possible to score goals and get in the right area0 that’s what I did with my two goals.
“Scoring goals gives you confidence as a striker and credit to my team-mates as a three nil win against West Ham is massive.
“They’re a great side, credit to them they’ve been great this year.
“We had to be patient for the second goal.
“Hopefully we can kick on now.”
A BRIDGE TOO FAR
David Moyes still can’t get a win at Stamford Bridge.
ALL IS CALM, BLUE AND BRIGHT
Abraham secured Chelsea’s victory with a double which takes them into the top five this Christmas.
It’s a welcome result for Frank Lampard after his side’s back-to-back league defeats.
FT: CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
Double trouble! Here’s Abraham’s second of the evening.
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
90. Three additional minutes at Stamford Bridge.
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
89. Substitution for West Ham as Bowen is replaced by Fredericks.
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
87. Werner’s luck is just not helping him!
Kante dispossesses Coufal in the centre of the park and makes excellent strides towards the box.
He picks out Werner, unmarked, on the right of the box.
But he leans back too far as he pulls the trigger and sends it flying over the bar.
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
Here’s Abraham’s first goal of the evening (and Chelsea’s second)
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
84. Two in a matter of minutes from Abraham.
With Giroud in such good form, the youngster had to prove his worth this evening and he’s done just that.
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
83. Substitution for Chelsea, as Pulisic is replaced by Havertz.
Lampard freely admittedbefore the game that Havertz is still finding his feet, so ten minutes should help the German international.
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
82. West Ham will be kicking themselves, as it really did look like they’d pull themselves back into the game.
CHELSEA 3-0 WEST HAM
79. Mount picks up the pace on the left and sends a lovely ball to the six-yard area to pick out Pulisic.
Pulisic wipes out Fabianski on the line, leaving Abraham free to slot the ball in from the right-hand side.
Questionable foul on the keeper there, but VAR doesn’t agree.
GOOOAL
HOW A GAME CAN CHANGE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES!
CHELSEA 2-0 WEST HAM
78. Werner miskicks the ball from the top left of the area as he picks out poacher Abraham in the six-yard area.
Abraham taps the ball in with the inside of his foot, leaving Fabianski helpless.
GOOOAL
FROM NOWHERE, ABRAHAM GETS CHELSEA THEIR SECOND
CHELSEA 1-0 WEST HAM
76. It’s started to rain at Stamford Bridge and the weather seems to reflect Lampard’s mood.
CHELSEA 1-0 WEST HAM
75. Coufal stands his ground as Mount hurtles towards him, the Chelsea man falls to the ground and appeals for a pen, but the ref dismisses it and VAR confirms his decision was correct.
CHELSEA 1-0 WEST HAM
Here was Haller’s missed opportunity at the start of the second half.
CHELSEA 1-0 WEST HAM
72. Rice picks out Coufal with a beautiful ball from the left touchline to the top right-hand corner of the box, but Coufal takes too long and Kante blocks his effort.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
