Aaron Cresswell scored the only goal of the match as West Ham United recorded a 1-0 win over Chelsea in Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
The Hammers entered the London derby off the back of an eight-game winless run in all competitions, but Cresswell's second-half strike handed Manuel Pellegrini's side a huge three points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage of the action below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text updates from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea face West Ham United in the Premier League. Can the Hammers end an eight-game winless run in all competitions this afternoon? Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites, but there are always surprise results at this stage of the campaign. Stay tuned!
TEAMS!
CHELSEA: Kepa; James, Zouma, Tomori, Emerson; Kovacic, Jorginho; Pulisic, Mount, Pedro; Giroud
WEST HAM: Martin: Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Cresswell; Rice; Snodgrass, Noble, Fornals, Anderson; Antonio
Tammy Abraham's injury has opened the door for Olivier Giroud to earn a rare Premier League start, while Pedro also makes the XI with both Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi on the bench. N'Golo Kante is also among the substitutes for Chelsea as Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic play just behind Mason Mount, who takes on his close friend Declan Rice this afternoon.
As for West Ham, Michail Antonio's strike on his return from injury against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend has earned him a spot at centre-forward, meaning that Sebastien Haller drops out. There is also a Premier League debut between the sticks for David Martin with Roberto dropping to the bench. Issa Diop's suspension, meanwhile, sees Fabian Balbuena come into central defence.
Chelsea are currently fourth in the Premier League table with 26 points to show from their first 13 matches of the 2019-20 campaign. West Ham, meanwhile, occupy 17th spot, and the Hammers will enter this afternoon's clash off the back of an eight-game winless run.
KICKOFF: West Ham kick things off at Stamford Bridge...
... it has been a bright start from West Ham, who have had some good early possession in the opening couple of minutes. As expected, Antonio is playing through the middle for the Hammers, with Snodgrass and Anderson operating in the two wide positions.
Half-chance for the home side as Emerson breaks into a wide position before delivering a low cross into Pedro, but the Spaniard sees his attempt blocked by Ogbonna.
Just a reminder that Abraham's absence through injury has opened the door for Giroud to start this afternoon. Not too much from the France international in the opening moments, but he will be keen to make a positive impression having struggled for action this term.
There has already been one Premier League match this afternoon, and it was a terrific result for Newcastle United as they held Manchester City to a 2-2 draw at St James' Park. Liverpool, who are hosting Brighton & Hove Albion, would have absolutely loved it.
CLOSE! Half-chance for the away side as Cresswell delivers a dangerous cross into Antonio, who volleys over the crossbar from close range. Good work from Antonio there.
SAVE! Comfortable save for Martin to keep out a strike from Mount.
It is not difficult to see why Antonio has been chosen through the middle for West Ham as he is causing plenty of problems with his pace and power in the early exchanges. Chelsea, meanwhile, are causing problems in wide areas through Pedro and Pulisic.
Slight stoppage in play as Fornals goes down and stays there following a collision with Reece James, but the Spaniard is fine to continue following a period of treatment.
Smart defending from Fredericks this time as the right-back is across on the cover to clear ahead of Pulisic, who has been bright and inventive in the first 15 minutes here.
Well, so far, so good for West Ham in terms of the scoreline. Chelsea are on top, but it is difficult to say that the Hammers are under intense pressure. A low pass has just come into the penalty box from Pulisic but again it is confident work from Martin.
SAVE! Comfortable stop for Martin to keep out a deflected effort from Pedro as the pressure continues. West Ham are just finding it difficult to keep the ball at the moment.
West Ham are really struggling to get out of their own half at the moment.
OFF THE POST! A deep cross from James hits the outside of the West Ham post, before Zouma heads the resulting corner just over the crossbar. Big pressure from Chelsea here.
West Ham continue to ride their luck here with Chelsea utterly dominant in possession of the ball. Antonio, who started well, is now incredibly isolated in the final third of the field.
CHANCE! Big chance for West Ham as Snodgrass delivers a dangerous cross onto the head of Antonio, who sees his powerful header well saved by Kepa between the sticks!
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and while Chelsea are the team on the front foot, West Ham have had a couple of big chances here, both for Antonio.
Possession football from Chelsea but not too much happening for the moment.
Hudson-Odoi and Willian are both on the bench this afternoon, and it would not be a surprise to see both of them in the second period if the score stays goalless. Giroud has not really been in the game in the first 31 minutes, but there is still plenty of time.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and Chelsea have just had two corners in quick succession. West Ham are defending well, though, with Ogbonna particularly impressive in the first 33 minutes. Still goalless in the capital.
A man under pressure? Well, Pellegrini's team have been much better thus far here.
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YELLOW CARD! Snodgrass (West Ham) picks up the first booking of the match for a foul on Emerson.
Ogbonna looks to have a problem for West Ham as he receives some treatment.
Ogbonna has had some spray on the bottom of his back and now seems fine to continue. Still goalless with little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining in the capital.
James has been impressive for the home side down the right, but both Pedro and Pulisic have faded after bright starts to the contest. West Ham are comfortable for the moment.
Chelsea threaten with another corner into the West Ham box, but Martin comes a long way to gather. The experienced stopper, on his Premier League debut, has been solid.
SAVE! Decent stop from Martin to keep out a strike from Kovacic, before the goalkeeper manages to deny Giroud from the rebound. Again it is good from Martin here.
I should not imagine that there will be too much in the way of added time at the end of the first period as West Ham press forward in search of the opening goal here.
We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
SHOT! Pulisic fires over the crossbar from inside the West Ham box after James had delivered a dangerous cross into the box. That will be that in terms of the first period here.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 0-0 WEST HAM
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Chelsea have shaded the match overall, but it would be fair to say that West Ham have had some very positive moments, and a huge chance through Antonio.
STATISTICS! Chelsea shaded the first-half possession with 63%, while they managed nine attempts, three of which were on target. West Ham only had two shots in the first half - both for Antonio - but have arguably had the game's best opportunity thus far. Just the one yellow card to report, with Snodgrass having his name taken for the visitors.
BENCH WATCH! Chelsea have a lot of attacking talent on their bench this afternoon with the likes of Batshuayi, Willian and Hudson-Odoi all capable of making a difference in the second period. West Ham, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Haller, Ajeti and Yarmolenko.
KICKOFF: Chelsea resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not a surprise. However, you do get the feeling that both managers will have alterations in mind as the play progresses here.
Chelsea have impressed this season, but there is no question that this would go down as an opportunity missed if they fail to collect all three points. West Ham have been much better than in previous weeks, though, and the players appear to be playing for Pellegrini.
GOAL! CHELSEA 0-1 WEST HAM (CRESSWELL)
GOAL! Oh my word! West Ham take the lead in the 48th minute of this match as Cresswell collects a pass from Fornals before turning inside the Chelsea box and finding the bottom corner. It is a wonderful finish from the left-back. What a turn-up here!
The away supporters are in fine voice now, but the Chelsea fans have responded as they demand more from their team. What a second half we could potentially have here!
Possession football for Chelsea at the moment, but the home side do appear to be missing that final piece in the final third as West Ham comfortably deal with the pressure.
Still plenty of time for Chelsea to turn this game around, but West Ham look more than capable of scoring more goals here. The atmosphere inside the stadium is electric here.
It would be fair to say that the West Ham fans enjoyed this one...
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Kante, Willian and Hudson-Odoi have all been sent to warm up for the home side, and it would not be a surprise to see Lampard use his bench in the next five minutes or so.
Smart defending from Fredericks to challenge Jorginho after the midfielder had broken into the away side's box. The resulting corner is then wide of the post by Zouma.
Declan Rice has been impressive for the visitors this afternoon and another run forward has just brought West Ham a corner. Chelsea are preparing their first change here.
SAVE! Super save from Kepa to keep out a header from Ogbonna!
SAVE! Another save from Kepa to gather an attempt from Antonio, who found himself free inside the penalty box. The attacker really should have found the back of the net!
CHELSEA SUBS! Willian and Kante replace Pedro and Jorginho for the home side.
Bit of pressure from Chelsea in the last few minutes, and that will concern Pellegrini as his team have not exactly been wonderful defensively in recent weeks.
YELLOW CARD! Fornals (West Ham) is booked for a foul on Willian.
You do wonder when Pellegrini might look to his bench as there are some tired players out there, but the Hammers boss will be concerned about upsetting the balance.
GOAL! CHELSEA 0-2 WEST HAM (ANTONIO)
DISALLOWED GOAL! NO GOAL! HANDBALL!
DISALLOWED GOAL! Antonio's goal has been chalked off for handball so it remains 1-0 to the visitors.
Little over 20 minutes of the second period remaining, Antonio thought that he had sent the away side 2-0 ahead, but the score stays 1-0 heading into the final exchanges here.
WEST HAM SUB! Yarmolenko enters the field in place of Anderson for West Ham.
CHELSEA SUB! Hudson-Odoi replaces Giroud for the home side here.
There is some concern over Antonio here as the attacker holds his hamstring, and it does appear that the attacker will be replaced by Haller, who is on the touchline.
WEST HAM SUB! Haller replaces Antonio for the away side here.
West Ham are very, very organised at the moment, meaning that Chelsea are finding it very difficult to break through as we head for the final 10 minutes of this contest.
Rice has been excellent for the away side this afternoon, winning the battle against his close friend Mount, thus far. There is still time for a lot to happen at Stamford Bridge.
Willian finds space in a wide area before delivering low towards Pulisic, but Ogbonna does well to make the clearance. West Ham are coming under real pressure now.
The likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Man United will be hoping that this result stands as Chelsea are the team currently in fourth position. West Ham are very, very deep and James has just fired one over the crossbar from distance. Still 1-0 to the visitors.
WEST HAM SUB! Masuaku replaces Fornals for the away side.
Little under five minutes of the second period remaining, and the Hammers continue to defend their lines. Another corner comes and goes for the home side here.
YELLOW CARD! Yarmolenko (West Ham) is booked for a foul on Emerson.
SHOT! Pulisic breaks into a dangerous position for the home side, but the American fires just wide of the post as West Ham move closer to a big three points here.
Martin does well to deal with a deep cross into his box, but Chelsea will have a corner as we head into five minutes of added time at the home of Chelsea.
West Ham are camped inside their own half at the moment as Chelsea continue to force the issue, but the overall quality from the home side has not been great here.
Chelsea have a free kick in a dangerous area following a challenge from Masuaku...
... excellent header from Balbuena to deal with the delivery, before an offside means that more seconds tick on with West Ham still in the lead at Stamford Bridge.
YELLOW CARD! Cresswell (West Ham) is booked for a foul on Kante.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 0-1 WEST HAM
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with West Ham running out 1-0 winners at Chelsea courtesy of a second-half effort from Cresswell.
That is just about it from me this afternoon, but I shall leave you with the match report from what was a brilliant London derby. Thanks for joining our live coverage once again!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
