Chelsea turned in a fantastic performance to put West Ham United to the sword, indeed, despite being down to ten men it was, at times, not obvious which team was a man light. The win also ensures that the dream of back-to-back Premiership titles becomes nearer to reality.
Mourinho sprung several surprises with his starting line opting to play without any wide men and restoring the much favoured central defensive partnership of John Terry and William Gallas. All in all six changes were made to the team that had surprisingly dropped two points in the fixture at St Andrews last weekend. Geremi, Essien, Maniche and Crespo were also restored to the starting line up as Chelsea prepared to dig deep in an attempt to wrestle three points from a West Ham side that had a good record at Stamford Bridge.
In making the changes, Maniche started his first Premiership fixture for Chelsea whilst the strike duo of Hernan Crespo and Didier Drogba also started a Premiership fixture, as a partnership, for the first time.
The home side got the action underway attacking the Shed End and the first chance saw Essien blaze well over after a poor clearance form the West Ham defence. Four minutes later Lampard saw a shot deflected with the deflection taking all of the pace off the ball. With Chelsea having started well it was a shock when, with only nine minutes gone, West Ham took the lead.
The goal came after Harewood won a corner off Del Horno. With the home defence still trying to get organised Benayoun delivered the perfect ball for Collins to steer a powerful header past Cech at the near post. Chelsea?s response was good with Gabbidon doing well to turn away a dangerous cross from Del Horno before good work saw the ball played back in for Essien to nod narrowly over.
Still Chelsea pushed forward and anther fine move saw Maniche turn a Drogba cross onto the bar from just four yards out, Essien, raced on to the rebound but could only head wide. On the quarter hour mark Cech reacted smartly to clasp onto a low shot from Etherington before the game was rocked by a contentious incident.
Crespo kept the ball in play but his ball into the path of Maniche was lacking pace and a little too short. However, it doesn?t excuse the fact that Maniche clearly went over the top and caught Scaloni. Perhaps matters were not helped though by the defenders decision to roll around in apparent agony before resuming play without even the merest sign of a limp.
Down to ten men, West Ham must have hoped that it was to be their day; instead they were in for a rude awakening as Chelsea upped the ante and forced the visitors back. With twenty-eight minutes played Chelsea deservedly equalised through Drogba.
Lampard played a long diagonal ball that released Drogba. His first touch took him wide and Collins was able to block the shot, thankfully the rebound fell nicely for Drogba and his low shot beat Gabbidon as the defender tried to clear off the line. Less than two minutes later Chelsea were ahead and once again Drogba was involved. This time he picked up a ball from Essien and when his low shot was deflected into the path of Crespo the Argentine striker gleefully slid it home. It had been a remarkable turnaround.
However, Chelsea could have increased their lead before half time. Another long ball found Drogba but his first touch was poor and Hislop was able to block his shot. With three minutes of stoppage time safely negotiated, Chelsea left the pitch to thunderous applause.
The second half started with West Ham trying to get back into the game. Ashton lifted a shot over before Chelsea resumed the pattern of play that served them so well in the first half. Lampard fired wide after Essien had been tripped out wide before, with fifty three minutes played Chelsea got the decisive third goal.
It came after persistent work from Drogba had earned a corner. Lampard saw his cross cleared but the ball was worked backing and when Gallas drove a shot against the bar you could be forgiven for thinking the chance had gone. However, the ball fell invitingly for Terry to smash it back past Hislop. At 3-1 you sensed the game was all over and beyond West Ham.
West Ham tried to respond by Harewood could only succeed in striking his shot off for a throw in much to the delight of the Stamford Bridge crowd. With sixty five minutes completed Mourinho made a change bringing on Robben for Crespo and the Dutchman could have made an instant impact.
Chelsea broke out of defence at speed and with Essien leading the charge the ball was fed to Robben, sadly his shot was blocked but the persistence of Drogba eventually won Chelsea free kick out wide. Robben delivered it to the far post where it was knocked back across the goal. Drogba arched his back and headed it down to a thankful Gallas who prodded it home for the fourth Chelsea goal.
The home side were, by now, rampant and the crowd hoped for a fifth. It wasn?t to be though but not for the lack of trying. Essien fired well over when bursting through and the same player headed over from a good position on the edge of the box. However, it was West Ham that could have scored a final goal.
Sheringham had come on for Benayoun and when he turned inside his marker he was unfortunate to see Gallas clear his low shot off the line. Robben did net a fifth but it was clearly offside however, the decision didn?t in any way detract from a great performance that got our back-to-back title aspirations back on track.
Cech 6, Geremi 7, Terry 7, Gallas 7, Del Horno 7, Makelele 8, Lampard 6, Essien 7 (Carvalho 6), Maniche 4, Drogba 9 (Cole 6) , Crespo 7 (Robben 7)
Manager Rating
Mourinho ? Made some bold decisions in going for a midfield four dropping his wide men and he will be glad that the pressure has been eased with an emphatic victory.
Opponent Rating
Pardew ? Might rue the fact hat his team didn?t push on when 1-0 up and Chelsea were down to ten men. As for the midweek trip to Dubai ? only he can explain if it affected his team.