Chelsea followed up their Capital One Cup victory with a hard-fought
1-0 win on their return to Premier League business at West Ham.
Eden Hazard scored to give Chelsea a 1-0 win over West Ham United
Jose Mourinho won a first trophy of his second spell as Blues boss
with a 2-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday and Chelsea remain well placed
to add a first Premier League title in five years.
The Hammers had one win in 17 against the Blues entering the contest
but refused to be cowed by the leaders and deserved more, only for Eden
Hazard's first-half header to settle the contest, keeping Chelsea five
points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Mourinho spoke of short celebrations after the Wembley win and
captain John Terry insisted they had been postponed until the end of the
season, when he hoped there would be further cause to party.
Yet at times it appeared as though Chelsea's defenders had a hangover
as the pace of Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Stewart Downing found
holes.
Terry was booked for pulling down Valencia in the first half and
cautious thereafter, with Chelsea indebted to a number of fine saves
from the restored Thibaut Courtois - namely from Cheikhou Kouyate and
Sakho - as the Hammers pressed forwards.
Ramires struck a post on the counter-attack and had a header well
saved by Adrian, while Willian spurned a late chance for a second to
settle the contest.
The Hammers now have one win in 11 league games to slip further down
the standings - and Sam Allardyce appears to be running out of time to
convince his bosses to extend his contract, which expires at the end of
the season.
Chelsea's players, meanwhile, have two days off before resuming
preparations for next week's Champions League last-16 second leg with
Paris St Germain.
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