CHELSEA have been held by West Ham at the London Stadium but will feel aggrieved by a late hand ball from Tomas Soucek.
Joao Felix gave the Blues an early lead before former Chelsea player Emerson Palmieri squared the game up.
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Given how much these two teams have struggled to score goals recently, perhaps this game was always going to end in a draw.
But it didn’t seem as though it was going to end that way at half time after both teams had played on the front foot and looked to punish the opposition’s lapses in defence.
Joao Felix got himself on the scoresheet in what was a fantastic first half performance from the Atletico Madrid loanee.
Chelsea fans will be feeling wronged by a controversial handball decision that could easily have awarded them a penalty in the 89th minute of the game.
However, West Ham supporters will be quick to tell you that they were wronged by a controversial VAR decision of their own in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
The most worrying thing for the Hammers today was the sight of two key players, Lucas Paqueta and Nayef Aguerd having to be substituted after picking up worrying looking injuries.
David Moyes will be hoping for good news from the medical department in the week as he prepares his team for a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in another London derby next Sunday.
Next up for Chelsea is a midweek trip to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League before they host Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Until then, all that’s left for me to say is thanks for joining me and I’ll speak to you next time!
Graham Potter quotes
The Chelsea boss has been having his say on Joao Felix’s performance.
I thought he managed the game well, you could see his quality. He’s only going to get better and better.
Graham Potter
West Ham injuries
Hammers fans will be sweating over the fitness of two of their star players ahead of their game against Spurs next weekend.
Lucas Paqueta only lasted 14 minutes before succumbing to shoulder injury and Nayef Aguerd came off with what looked like a muscular injury.
Aguerd in particular has struggled with injury since he arrived at the club and David Moyes now faces a nervous wait to find out the extent of the defender’s injury.
Pressure on Potter
The Chelsea boss will be nervously checking his emails and hoping Todd Boehly’s name doesn’t flash up on his phone screen over the next few days.
Today’s draw at the London Stadium is their third in a row in the Premier League and means Chelsea have now played seven away games without a win – their last coming against Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa in mid-October.
Potter will be so disappointed that his team failed to capitalise on their total domination in the early stages as West Ham worked their way back into the game.
Wednesday’s trip to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League looks even more important for the Chelsea boss now.
Joao Felix
The Atletico Madrid loanee was outstanding in the first half as he terrorised the West Ham defenders with his mix of tenacity and technical ability.
He put the away side in front 16 minutes into the game with a well-taken goal after his run was picked out by Enzo Fernandez.
The Chelsea attacker’s performance did noticeably drop off in the second half though as West Ham began to defend more cohesively, but there were plenty of encouraging signs for the West Londoner’s new recruit.
Match stats
Chelsea totally dominated possession but in the end a draw was probably a fair result.
Full Time: West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
It ends all square at the London Stadium.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
90+5, We’re into the final minute of added time here.
Time is running out for one of these sides to find a winner.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
90+3, West Ham look the more likely to win this in the closing stages.
Chelsea can’t get out of their own half.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
90+2, Badiashile rises to meet the free-kick and head clear.
That was a good opportunity to find a late goal for David Moyes’ men.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
90+1, Bowen wins a free-kick on the byline after a foul by Ben Chilwell.
Emerson to swing it in…
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
90, The referee has decided that we’re going to have another five minutes added on here.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
89, Chelsea are screaming at the referee for a handball in the box.
Gallagher’s shot does seem to come off Soucek’s arm in the penalty area but VAR decides not to intervene.
We’ll be talking about that incident after this game if Chelsea fail to find a late winner here.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
86, That’s three goals that have been ruled out for offside in this game.
West Ham thought they’d found a late winner.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
82, Soucek think he’s puts the Hammers in front!
But it’s ruled out by VAR!
Rice sees his header saved by Kepa and Soucek bundles the ball in at the back post.
The London Stadium erupts but the goal is chalked off after a lengthy check by the official at Stockley Park.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
80, Uh-oh – this looks like another injury concern for the Hammers.
Aguerd is down and being checked over by the physios and it looks like he’s unable to continue.
Ben Johnson is coming on for the Moroccan.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
79, Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s afternoon is over as Conor Gallagher comes on to replace him.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
77, A flock of pigeons have taken a particular liking to the pitch here.
Perhaps that’s a sign that the second 45 hasn’t been the most breathless half of football.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
75, There’s 15 minutes of normal time remaining here at the London Stadium.
Can one of these teams find a late winner?
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
73, Bowen goes down in the penalty area clutching his jaw after colliding with Reece James.
I don’t think there’s any malice in it on James’ part but he certainly caught the West Ham attacker with his elbow.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
71, Reece James has looked rusty this afternoon.
He’s clearly still feeling his way back into it after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the World Cup.
England head coach Gareth Southgate is here to cast an eye over proceedings so a meaningful contribution form the Chelsea full back would certainly be timely.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
66, Both managers have shuffled their pack here.
David Moyes has replaced Benrahma and Antonio with Flynn Downes and Danny Ings.
Graham Potter has made a triple substitution as Mount, Chilwell and Ziyech come on for the visitors.
Mudryk, Cucurella and Madueke are the players to make way for the Blues.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
64, Antonio does brilliantly to roll Badiashile near the halfway line.
The former Monaco man has to bring Antonio down as he sprints in behind him and is shown a yellow card by Craig Pawson.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
62, It looks like Danny Ings is going to be introduced by David Moyes soon.
West Ham need to change something here.
West Ham 1 – 1 Chelsea
60, West Ham have dropped right off here and are inviting Chelsea onto them.
The home supporters are beginning to get a little uneasy.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
