After an impressive 3-2 win over Napoli in midweek, Liam Rosenior boldly made seven changes to his starting XI, and an early sight of goal for West Ham’s Taty Castellanos was an indicator that the Chelsea boss had overplayed his hand.
The opening 15 minutes of the Hammers’ league games this term had produced a league-high 14 goals, and another duly arrived here as the visitors reaped the rewards of their brilliant start.
Jarrod Bowen’s cross from the inside right evaded the outstretched Pablo, but had enough whip on it to sneak inside the far post and mark the West Ham captain’s fourth successive goal to arrive inside the opening half-hour of games.
Chelsea’s attack, led by the returning Cole Palmer, proved ineffective throughout a dreadful first half for the hosts.
West Ham clearly targeted the Blues’ left flank as an area to exploit, and Jorrel Hato and Alejandro Garnacho consistently had no answer to the questions posed by the double act of Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men deservedly doubled their lead on 36’ when that dynamic duo combined, with Bowen finding Wan-Bissaka to cut back for Crysencio Summerville, who slammed home his fourth goal in as many games.
Boos broke out among the home support frequently towards the end of the first half, and they culminated in a loud chorus on the half-time whistle, which prompted Rosenior to respond by introducing Joao Pedro, Wesley Fofana, and Marc Cucurella at the break.
And after Robert Sanchez denied Mateus Fernandes and Bowen, those changes paid dividends as Fofana strode forward and delivered a perfect cross, which Pedro headed down to halve Chelsea’s arrears with his fourth goal involvement against West Ham this season.
The visitors’ goal was now under serious pressure, with Alphonse Areola making a world-class save to tip Moises Caicedo’s long-range strike away from the top corner.
There was nothing the Frenchman could do to stop Chelsea restoring parity as he was deceived by compatriot Malo Gusto’s header, which was nodded against the bar by Max Kilman before Cucurella slammed home the rebound.
The hosts then pushed for a winner, but were nearly caught out at the other end when Jean-Clair Todibo contrived to hit the post from point-blank range.
Rosenior’s men kept their heads and ultimately struck the killer blow in stoppage time when Pedro found space in the right channel, pulling back for Enzo Fernandez, who turned home the winner on the three-year anniversary of his signing for the club.
Chelsea climb into the top four as a result, while West Ham, who saw Todibo sent off late for grabbing Pedro around the neck, suffered a seventh defeat from eight league London derbies.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Joao Pedro (Chelsea)
