West Ham will go for the jugular and hurt Chelsea with set pieces: Zola

19 December 2009 13:58
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola will order his side to target Chelsea's frailty at set-pieces as they look to kickstart their campaign with a home win against the Premier League leaders tomorrow.[LNB]The Blues have won just one of their five matches in December and their defence has come under the spotlight after conceding 11 times this month.[LNB]A number of those goals have come from set-pieces, with goalkeeper Petr Cech coming in for some criticism for failing to command his box.[LNB]Hopeful: Zola[LNB]And it is an area the Hammers will seek to exploit when Chelsea visit Upton Park.[LNB]'We know that they have been conceding from set-pieces,' said Zola, a former Chelsea player.[LNB]'We have been very dangerous from set-pieces ourselves so that might be the key to the game. Chelsea have lost a bit of confidence and I am not sure why, but I hope it continues. Chelsea are not the same Chelsea they were some time ago.[LNB]'But they are still top of the league and a fantastic performance is required from us.'[LNB]Zola's defence has been even more porous, shipping 14 goals in their last six league games.[LNB]One of the goals they conceded in the 3-1 defeat to Bolton on Tuesday night came when goalkeeper Robert Green, who has been one of the Hammers' star players this season, inexplicably fumbled a straightforward shot at the feet of Ivan Klasnic, who tapped home.[LNB]Zola expects Green to bounce back against Chelsea in a match where the England custodian could be under severe pressure.[LNB]'Robert Green is a strong person, a strong man and he will be okay,' Zola said.[LNB]'He knows what he did and I didn't need to say anything to him. He has been magnificent for me since last year and he knows he made a mistake.[LNB]'It happened a couple of times with me - I missed chances without a goalkeeper in front of me from one yard out. It's part of the game.'[LNB] Andy Townsend's Boot Room: Zola doesn't need executive stressCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail