Well what a Saturday afternoon our beloved West Ham do like to take us through the emotions, but this game was truly a game of two halves! Let me talk you through them both –
First Half – Well a few regular faces were missing from the team with Andy Carroll now out for up to 8 weeks and Big Sam resting Mohamed Diame.
In all honesty I thought we started the game well for the first 5 – 10 minutes then we just sat back inviting Chelsea to attack us down both wings. I think Joey O’Brien handled Hazard well but Demel really struggled to keep a grip on Moses who gave him a torrid time but Demel is just coming back from injury.
Chelsea’s goal was well worked with Moses playing through Torres who squared it to Mata for a nice little side foot goal, After that Chelsea went from strength to strength giving us more than a few problems! Jussi made a few good saves in this half and we did have the ball in the back of the net from Nolan but the whistle had already gone which in my opinion was wrong as the referee blew for a foul on Ivanovic by Collins – HARSH!
Chelsea could gone went down to ten men but Cech was only shown a yellow card for a deliberate handball as he came charging out of his box to punch clear a loose ball that in fairness Cahill would of surely sorted. From the free kick Nolan forced a excellent save from Cech. To say hearing the whistle for the end of this half was a relief is an understatement.
Second Half – As a West Ham fan I know this season that West Ham have came on strong in the second half of games. I was intrigued at what Big Sam was going to do and it didn’t take long at the start of the second half he brought off Tomkins for Diame and O’Neil for Taylor and this did make us look stronger in the middle of the park so excellent management from Big Sam. We looked so much stronger and a lot more confident on the ball in the second half not rushing like in the first and not sitting back.
We were getting up at Chelsea and not giving their players time to think or move although the ref Martin Atkinson was giving every decision Chelsea’s way. So it was a surprise when he let Carlton Cole’s goal stand, I did think it was a foul but I was so pleased it was allowed to stand as Cole had deserved it for his efforts in this game he was out standing. After our goal from Cole it just pushed us on, Chelsea did hit the post with a free kick from Mata but apart from that it was all West Ham.
Diame was bossing the middle of the park and running the show and then on 86th minute Cole held the ball up played it back to Diame who was just outside the 18 yard box who hit it on the low volley to make it 2-1 and the crowd went wild!! Cole came off for Maiga who in the short time he was on he linked up well with Taylor on the right and on the 91st minute Maiga broke from a mistake by Ashley Cole played in Taylor who force a low save from Cech but Maiga was there to follow up the lose ball and again the crowd go wild. This is what it is to be a Hammer fan; the sheer joy of such a great turn around and excellent changes and tactical knowledge from Big Sam to gain a 3-1 victory not only over a top 4 team but over a fierce rival!!
I understand why Big Sam made a few changes after West Ham have had a gruelling run of fixtures of late and players may have needed rested or be exhausted but when the time was right he was not scared to make the correct changes to the game and he did so. Diame was an absolute monster in the middle of the park, he bossed the whole second half and he set the pace and broke Chelsea! Carlton Cole was fantastic he ran his heart out and kept going and got the goal he deserved in the game which can only be good for us.
Cole is a player I do really like who just needs confidence. I also want to mention Joey O’Brien who I personally think has been one of our unsung heroes who has been brilliant for us at the back and a reliable player who will always give us 110%.
Massive win for us Hammers and lets keep this going!!
Carl Bateson
Follow me on Twitter @BatesonCarl for feedback comments and general West Ham banter.
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