CHRISTIAN PULISIC came to Chelsea’s rescue with a winning goal against ten men West Ham.
The American rolled home a cross from Marcos Alonso with the last kick of normal time to end a run of three defeats on the spin at home.
Christian Pulisic rescued Chelsea at the death against West Ham Credit: Getty
Jorginho missed a late penalty and looked to have blown the Blues’ chance of winning Credit: PA
Pulisic stabbed home from close-range in the dying seconds to claim victory Credit: Reuters But it was hardly a convincing performance as it needed Craig Dawson to be sent off before Chelsea could make use of their domination as nerves at Stamford Bridge continue to dog Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Midfielder Jorginho also missed a penalty in a below par performance from this year’s FA Cup finalists.
This was the first game in four that the visitors failed to score but the three points are a massive boost to boss Tuchel – who has been watching Arsenal gain ground on his side in the battle for third place.
Chelsea’s lead over Arsenal is restored to five points and they have a game in hand on their London neighbours.
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Free bets – Get £30 Sky Bet bonus when you stake £10 on Premier League football But with both teams having an unfamiliar look it was a disjointed game with little action bar the decisive shot from sub Pulisic in the dying moments.
West Ham boss David Moyes opted to rest on-pitch captain Declan Rice along with forwards Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.
He clearly has eyes on Thursday’s Europa League semi final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Tuchel was forced to make changes with Reece James ruled out with a hamstring problem.
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Andreas Christensen was taken ill with stomach cramps in the warm up and there was no place in the squad at all for Antonio Rudiger, who has decided to leave the club in the summer.
West Ham were the happier to hold out for a point whereas Chelsea grew more and more frustrated as the game wore on.
Tuchel spent the first hour rooted in the chair in his dugout but became more agitated as time ticked away and his team failed to get a grasp on the game.
But while his team was on top for the vast majority of the game, West Ham were resolute with Dawson, the club’s only fit centre-back, throwing himself at everything.
He launched his body full length to deny Timo Werner in the 56th minute and was lucky when a shot from N’Golo Kante ricocheted off his body into the grateful hands of Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Craig Dawson was sent off after hauling down Romelu Lukaku to give away a penalty Credit: Reuters
West Ham’s Lukasz Fabianski comfortably saved the spot-kick Credit: Reuters The game only really came to life in the last ten minutes. As Chelsea pushed for a winner, sub Romelu Lukaku was pulled down in the box by Dawson.
After consulting VAR, ref Michael Oliver awarded the penalty and sent off the defender who has been a hero for his club in recent weeks.
Jorginho had the perfect chance to smash home a spot kick and give Chelsea a much-needed home win but hit a meek shot straight at keeper Fabianski.
The home side made a last-gasp breakthrough when Alonso managed to thread a by-line cross from the left into the box, where Pulisic cashed in the space allowed by Dawson’s red card to divert a low shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards.
Super-sub Pulisic had the final say as he came to the rescue Credit: Reuters Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
