Chelsea travelled twelve miles across London, to Upton Park, and returned with all three points thanks to an emphatic 3-1 victory aginst a Hammers side that, at times, were made to look second best.
For the short trip across London, Mourinho chose, once again, to rotate his starting eleven by making five changes. Out went Joe Cole (suspended), Hernan Crespo (subs bench), Eidur Gudjohnsen (subs bench), William Gallas (rested) and Paulo Ferriera (rested). In came Asier Del Horno, Damien Duff, Geremi, Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele. Indeed, the changes meant that out of the squad only Petr Cech and John Terry played in all four festive fixtures.
With Chelsea having a poor record at Upton Park in recent years, only one win in seven visits, it was essential that Chelsea got off to a good start and thankfully they did. In the first few minutes Frank Lampard saw a free kick tipped over the bar by Roy Carroll before a free kick, for a foul on Michael Essien, saw the lively Frank Lampard drive a shot that was inadvertently blocked by Michael Essien just in front of the goal.
Unfortunately for Michael Essien, it was to be his last role in the game. The midfielder went down under a challenge from Nigel Reo-Coker and despite initially struggling on had to succumb to an ankle injury and was subsequently replaced by Eidur Gudjohnsen with only twelve minutes completed.
Chelsea continued to dominate matters and before the fifteen minute mark could be reached Roy Carroll had to produce another good save, this time from Arjen Robben. Asier Del Horno skipped down the flank and the Dutch striker reacted smartly to volley a shot goalwards. If Arjen had of directed it either side of Roy Carroll then Chelsea would have taken an early lead.
West Ham tried to relieve the pressure and with twenty minutes completed Damien Duff was harshly booked for a tackle, thankfully nothing came of the free kick. Meanwhile, Chelsea continued to push forward and Roy Carroll had to be alert to clasp a Didier Drogba header after yet more good work from Asier Del Horno.
However, with twenty-five minutes completed, the West Ham defence was finally breached courtesy of Frank Lampard. Damien Duff took a throw in and a poor headed clearance from Benayoun saw the ex-West Ham player react superbly to put his current team 1-0 up, against his former team.
West Ham reacted instantly and when Marlon Harewood and Matthew Etherington exchanged passes, Petr Cech half smothered the shot and John Terry had to react swiftly to clear the ball from close to his own line. Thankfully, that attack was only brief respite for a West Ham side that had been pinned back in their own half for long periods of the first half. Indeed, they were forced to rely on Roy Carroll to come to their aid again in the thirty-sixth minute when Arjen Robben raced through and curled a shot that the keeper did well to tip around the post.
With two minutes of stoppage time added, the referee, Howard Webb, somewhow contrived to play closer to five minutes. During that time Ricardo Carvalho fouled Harewood on the edge of the penalty area but as had been the case throughout the first half, the visiting defence coped admirably.
The second half started in dramatic style with West Ham equalising after just twenty-one seconds. John Terry missed a clearance and Marlon Harewood somehow knocked a bobbling ball down into the deck, up into the air and then into the net. Upton Park erupted, Mourinho looked shocked but Chelsea simply showed what made them champions and went up through the gears.
Damien Duff delivered a superb cross from the right flank, Didier Drogba played the perfect dummy and only a superb save from Roy Carroll denied Frank Lampard from scoring a second goal.
With fifty four minutes completed, Arjen Robben had two chances to put Chelsea back into the lead. The first saw the Dutchman volley over a cross from Damien Duff before the second saw Arjen latch onto a Didier Drogba flick to drill his shot just wide.
Mourinho, perhaps sensing the momentum gained over the festive period had to be kept going, introduced Hernan Crespo in place of Damien Duff and the Argentine striker didn’t have to wait long to make an instant impact.
Less than a minute after coming on, Hernan won the ball in a challenge and exchanged passes with Arjen Robben. Bearing down on goal, having expertly beaten the offside trap, he picked his spot and calmly put Chelsea 2-1 in front.
The next few minutes should have seen the prolific striker put Chelsea further ahead. Eidur Gudjohnsen played a perfect ball into his path but Hernan could only curl his shot just pass the far post. West Ham, trying to get back into the game, pushed forward and Eidur Gudjohnsen was unlucky to receive a yellow card for an innocuous challenge on Marlon Harewood. Thankfully the free kick rebounded to safety off of the Chelsea wall.
Chelsea were now taking advantage of West Ham pushing forward and picking them off at will on the counter attack. Arjen Robben played a sublime ball through to Hernan Crespo but the Argentine was once again off target with his shot and it drifted wide. Less than a minute later Didier Drogba played in a superb cross but Hernan Crespo couldn’t direct his header beneath the bar.
Such was Chelsea’s dominance even Ricardo Carvalho tried his luck but Roy Carroll read his intentions well and easily claimed his low thirty yard shot. However, that decisive third goal wasn’t far away and in the seventy-ninth minute Didier Drogba wrapped all three points up for Chelsea.
Playing out wide, he collected a superb ball from Eidur Gudjohnsen and despatched a low drive past Roy Carroll into the far corner of the net. Mourinho introduced Shaun Wright-Phillips in place of Hernan Crespo who by now was struggling with a muscle injury.
Shaun joined in the festivities drilling a shot just wide before, after completing three minutes of stoppage time, a shrill blast from Howard Webb put West Ham out of their misery. The win extended Chelsea’s current run to nine consecutive Premiership wins.
Player Ratings
Petr Cech 7
Couldn’t be faulted for the West Ham goal. Made some towering catches from crosses and wasn’t slow to launch counter attacks with his powerful throws.
Geremi 7
Surprise inclusion, at the expense of Paulo Ferriera, but had a steady game. Incurred the wrath of the West Ham supporters with two supposed hand offs that looked to perfectly fair.
Asier Del Horno 8
Troubled West Ham, in the first half, with his runs down the flank. Put in some superb crosses that troubled the home defence
John Terry 8
Possibly at fault for the West Ham goal but more than made up for it with his towering performance at the heart of the defence. Reacted smartly to clear off his line when Etherington looked to be in.
Ricardo Carvalho 8
One of his best games for Chelsea. Brought the ball out of defence like Franz Beckanbauer and looked so at ease against a somewhat lightweight West Ham attack.
Michael Essien 6
Only lasted twelve minutes before being carried off after a poor challenge from Reo-Coker
Frank Lampard 8
Scored his first goal against his former team since moving onto bigger and better things. Booked for a clash with Fletcher in a contest that looked to be lively. Could have scored a second but denied by a smart save from Carroll.
Claude Makelele 7
Returned to the side and slotted in comfortably. Rarely troubled by a West Ham side playing mostly in their own half.
Damien Duff 7
Made way for Hernan Crespo but can be content with his best performance for quite a while in a Chelsea shirt. Teased the home defence, created the first goal, albeit with a throw in, and sent over some marvellous crosses just before his withdrawal.
Didier Drogba 9
Man of the match – Star Player – A gigantic performance from the giant striker.
Arjen Robben 8
Disappeared into the Chelsea section of the crowd late on but can look back on another good performance. Some excellent running and ball skills troubled the West Ham rearguard.
Eidur Gudjohnsen 8
Came on early and bossed the midfield. His exceptional passing opened up the Hammers defence time after time.
Hernan Crespo 7
Came on just before the hour mark and scored within a minute of being on. Could have had three more and was unlucky to have to leave the field with a muscle injury.
Came on late but still found time to drive a twenty yard shot just wide as Chelsea ran West Ham ragged.
Manager Rating
Jose Mourinho – Shuffled his side and came up with the winning formula. Tactical substitutions opened up the game. Truly the Special One.
Opponent Rating
Alan Pardew – Didn’t expect to get much out of the game and wasn’t disappointed. Rightly pointed out that his side were in the Championship for two years whilst Chelsea were spending millions. Forgot to add that our cash kept them solvent!