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  • Anelka (51)
  • Bellamy (33)
  • Date:2008-12-14
  • Kick-off:16:00
  • Venue:Stamford Bridge
  • Attendance:41675
  • Referee:Riley, M

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL TIME CHELSEA 1-1 WEST HAM: Nicolas Anelka cancels out Craig Bellamy's first half goal but Chelsea again fail to win at home and miss the chance to go top of the table while both teams could have won it in the end.

90mins

Craig Bellamy is going off in a bid to use up vital seconds by Gianfranco Zola as David Di Michele comes on for the final moments.

90mins

Carlton Cole should have won the three points for West ham as he is played in by Valon Behrami but with just Petr Cech to beat the striker's effort is parried away by the keeper.

90mins

Souza Deco swings a ball in from the left wing but it goes straight through to Robert Green as we enter the injury time period and there will be four minutes to play.

88mins

Chelsea are denied a stonewall penalty as Lucas Neill brings down Frank Lampard in the area abut Mike Riley does not spot the foul.

88mins

Frank Lampard smashes the free kick at goal but it is straight down the throat of Robert Green who gathers the ball comfortably.

87mins

A handball by Calum Davenport gives Chelsea a dangerous free kick as West Ham make a change with Luis Boa Morte coming on for Jack Collison.

85mins

Just five minutes to go here as West Ham appear to have taken the sting out of Chelsea but they must stay focused for a few more minutes.

84mins

Jose da Silva Bosingwa's cross from the right is headed wide by Salomon Kalou but the ball lacked enough power to trouble Robert Green had it been on target.

83mins

Craig Bellamy's flag kick from the right is headed down and then hacked clear from inside the area by Didier Drogba.

82mins

West Ham get forward now and win a corner thanks to Craig Bellamy down the right wing.

80mins

Another change for Chelsea who want the three points as Juliano Belletti comes on for John Obi Mikel.

79mins

Chelsea are battering the West Ham area as Robert Green flaps at a corner and the ball is headed off the line by Scott Parker and he then has to save a follow up effort from Alex.

78mins

Chelsea go close again as Didier Drogba lays the ball to Salomon Kalou whose effort is deflected over off Calum Davenport.

76mins

Almost prophetic words there as Salomon Kalou sees an effort from the edge of the area getting through a number of legs and almost catching out Robert Green.

75mins

Joe Cole is going off after a good shift with Salomon Kalou the man to come on and possibly grab a winner for Chelsea.

74mins

Souza Deco 's shot from distance deflects into the air and Robert Green takes the catch under some pressure from Joe Cole.

72mins

Hayden Mullins is coming on in place of Mark Noble for some fresh defensive midfield legs in the final 20 minutes of action.

70mins

Valon Behrami does very well to get back and dispossess Souza Deco as he was looking to get a shot inside the area after a quick break.

69mins

Carlton Cole connects with John Terry's face and gets a talking to from Mike Riley as he has already been booked and could easily have picked up a second yellow there.

67mins

West Ham cannot clear a free kick into their area and Rodrigo da Costa Alex's shot deflects out for a corner. The ball is played in and an unmarked Didier Drogba sees his close range effort parried away by Robert Green.

66mins

Mark Noble puts in a cross from the left wing and feels he should have a corner from a slight touch off Joe Cole but the referee missed that one.

65mins

Frank Lampard hits one from outside the area which bounces up in front Robert Green who saves at the second attempt.

64mins

It is a case of Chelsea attacking and West Ham all back in their half trying to keep them at bay which will be difficult to do for another 25 minutes or so.

62mins

West Ham clear the flag kick but Chelsea pick the ball up and come straight back at them as they are going for the kill.

61mins

Chelsea are camped in the West Ham half of the field here with the visitors defence still standing firm as Joe Cole wins a corner off Scott Parker.

59mins

Didier Drogba runs off the slight knock to his knee and the action is back underway with Robert Green's goal kick.

58mins

Didier Drogba is laid on the floor but Chelsea continue playing as one shot in the area by Joe Cole hits Nicolas Anelka before Frank Lampard blasts his effort high and wide allowing Didier Drogba to get some treatment.

56mins

Back come Chelsea and West Ham cannot clear the ball which falls to Frank Lampard whose effort is straight at Robert Green.

55mins

Joe Cole walks into the area and very nearly gets a chance to score but for a timely last ditch tackle a few yards out.

54mins

That goal has brought this game into life now as West Ham have reacted well to being pegged back and that could mean more chances for Chelsea.

53mins

West Ham go close again as Carlton Cole brushes off Rodrigo da Costa Alex but smashes his drive just wide of the far post.

52mins

A timely goal for Chelsea but West Ham almost snatch a second straight away as he cannot convert a low Craig Bellamy cross into the net from a few yards.

51mins

CHELSEA 1-1 WEST HAM: A great build up and then ball into the area from Frank Lampard finds NICOLAS ANELKA in the area and he slips his shot past Robert Green.

50mins

West Ham just looked like they were going to hit Chelsea on the break but go all the way back to their keeper Robert Green in a possible shape of things to come here.

48mins

Souza Deco whips in the corner from the right but Carlton Cole is back to clear his lines with a powerful header.

47mins

Chelsea are enjoying all the early possession but West ham are staying strong at the back as they concede a corner.

46mins

There has been an anticipated change for Chelsea during the interval with Luiz Felipe Scolari throwing on Didier Drogba in place of Michael Ballack to make it a 4-3-3 formation.

46mins

The action is back underway at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea looking to overturn a one-goal deficit against a Hammers side that has not looked like conceding so far.

45mins

HALF TIME CHELSEA 0-1 WEST HAM: A shock on the cards here as Craig Bellamy hit the net with West Ham's only shot on target, while Chelsea have struggled to break down the Hammers despite dominating possession.

45mins

West Ham's Craig Bellamy is now shown a yellow card although he claims it was his first foul of the afternoon.

43mins

Joe Cole tries to put a telling ball in from the left flank but it drifts out for a goal kick as West Ham look comfortable here.

42mins

More good build up play by Chelsea but Jose da Silva Bosingwa's cross from the right is punched away by Robert Green and cleared by Mark Noble.

40mins

Souza Deco plays a corner in from the right conceded by Herita Ilunga but Rodrigo da Costa Alex is guilty of a foul inside the West Ham area.

39mins

Carlton Cole is the first West Ham man booked for stopping Chelsea taking a quick free kick from inside their own half.

38mins

Another Mark Noble corner from the left for West Ham but Nicolas Anelka heads clear almost under his own crossbar after it was flicked on.

37mins

Ashley Cole is the third Chelsea man booked now for a nasty looking challenge on Scott Parker.

35mins

Chelsea have been rattled by that goal as they have dominated the opening part of this game without really troubling the West Ham goal only to concede a sucker-punch effort.

33mins

Chelsea feel there were two handballs in the build up to that goal and Michael Ballack is yellow carded for his protests.

33mins

CHELSEA 0-1 WEST HAM: Mark Noble's ball in from the left finds CRAIG BELLAMY free in the area and he fires past Petr Cech at his near post.

32mins

Some nice intricate passing by Chelsea but the final ball into the area is hacked away by Matthew Upson as West Ham are standing firm.

31mins

Luiz Felipe Scolari looks a worried man on the touchline as we are just over half an hour in and Robert Green is yet to make a save.

30mins

Joe Cole concedes a corner to deny Herita Ilunga a shot. Mark Noble plays it in from the left but Chelsea get it clear through Ashley Cole.

28mins

Herita Ilunga deflects a Nicolas Anelka header out for a corner. Souza Deco plays the ball in but West Ham clear the danger once again.

27mins

Michael Ballack takes the kick but his effort hits the West Ham wall and is cleared away by the visitors.

26mins

Another free kick chance for Chelsea in a great position just to the left of goal and about 20-25 yards out.

25mins

Valon Behrami is laid on the sidelines after falling on his arm under pressure from Michael Ballack as he needs a bit of treatment.

24mins

Joe Cole surges towards the West Ham goal but Scott Parker dives in and takes the ball with a great tackle on the edge of the box.

22mins

The resulting free kick from Craig Bellamy hits the wall and is cleared, although the ball back in is gathered by Petr Cech under pressure from Calum Davenport.

21mins

The first booking of the day as John Obi Mikel cynically brings down Carlton Cole as he looked to race towards the Chelsea goal.

20mins

Mark Noble commits a foul in the middle of the park and instead of letting Chelsea continue referee Mike Riely opts to halt the action.

18mins

Frank Lampard hits one from distance and Calum Davenport diverts the ball out for a corner. Souza Deco plays it in but West Ham clear at the second attempt.

17mins

Craig Bellamy looks to get the better of Ashley Cole in a race for the ball but a free kick is given as it looked like he clipped the left-back's heels before getting in a shot.

16mins

Jack Collison is penalised for a foul on Ashley Cole down the left flank. The free kick is fizzed in by Frank Lampard and Rodrigo da Costa Alex cannot head in at the back post.

14mins

Joe Cole lifts the ball over the top but it bounces too far in front of Nicolas Anelka and into the hands of Robert Green.

12mins

Joe Cole lunges in on Mark Noble to concede a dangerous free kick for West Ham. Craig Bellamy whipped it in and Petr Cech is nowhere near it as Michael Ballack concedes a corner. The ball is played in but the referee sees a foul by Calum Davenport.

10mins

Carlton Cole is guilty of a foul on the edge of the Chelsea area as West Ham enjoy a brief foray up the field.

9mins

It is Chelsea's turn to worry about player fitness as John Terry appears to be struggling with a problem now.

7mins

Joe Cole is played in by Frank Lampard but Scott Parker dives in to block his effort from close range and concedes a corner which comes to nothing.

7mins

It has been a lively start here for Chelsea as they want to try and take advantage of the other 'top four' sides all drawing in Saturday's games.

6mins

A free kick from the middle of the West Ham half is played out to Jose da Silva Bosingwa but he cannot get past Mark Noble down the right and West Ham clear.

4mins

Jose da Silva Bosingwa lays the ball in from the right, Frank Lampard dummies and Michael Ballack hits one from 30 yards which is well high and wide.

3mins

Joe Cole tries to lift the ball over the top of the West Ham defence but it is too strong and runs behind for a goal kick to the visitors.

2mins

Good news is Jack Collison is back on so it was not a hamstring, although he is hobbling a little bit as he tries to run it off.

1mins

An injury already here as Jack Collison has gone down injured trying to cut out a cross from Souza Deco and it looks like his hamstring has gone. What a nightmare start this could be for the Hammers already without James Collins today.

0mins

The game is underway with Chelsea aiming to hit the right note at home after a strangely inconsistent season at Stamford Bridge, while the Hammers are only out of the drop zone courtesy of a better goal difference than Sunderland.

0mins

West Ham starting XI: Green, Neill, Upson, Davenport, Ilunga, Collison, Parker, Noble, Behrami, Bellamy, Cole.

0mins

Calum Davenport, Jack Collison and Mark Noble are back in the starting XI as the Hammers bid to cause an upset and prevent Chelsea from picking up the three points they need to take a one point lead at the top of the Premier League.

0mins

Gianfranco Zola makes an emotional return to face his former club where he was labelled Chelsea's greatest ever player by the supporters. And the West Ham boss makes three changes to the side which lost 2-0 against Tottenham at Upton Park on Monday.

0mins

Chelsea starting XI: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Deco, Ballack, Lampard, Joe Cole, Anelka.

0mins

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari brings Frank Lampard back into his starting XI in place of Salomon Kalou for the visit of London rivals West Ham to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Striker Didier Drogba has to settle for a place on the subs bench.

Match Preview

Chelsea aim to put an end to their recent Stamford Bridge blues when they entertain a toothless West Ham United side that has only scored four goals in their last ten league matches.

Since Liverpool ended their 86-game unbeaten home record at the end of October, Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have looked surprisingly vulnerable at Stamford Bridge.

After thrashing Sunderland 5-0, they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Burnley before being held to a goalless draw by relegation-threatened Newcastle United and losing 2-1 to Arsenal.

Despite eventually beating CFR Cluj 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday to qualify for the last 16 of the competition, Scolari's side again looked insecure at times against the Romanian side.

The Blues could not hope for better opponents this weekend though as they bid to end their home woes, as the Hammers have started to hurtle back towards the bottom three after embarking on a particularly barren run.

Gianfanco Zola's side are missing Dean Ashton, whose ankle injury is likely to keep him sidelined until next month and Carlton Cole remains their top scorer with only three goals.

Scolari could welcome back Didier Drogba to his starting line-up after the Ivory Coast international came off the bench to score the winner against Cluj, while Joe Cole came through the game with no ill-effects after his short lay-off with an ankle injury.

Ricardo Carvalho's knee problem is anticipated to keep him out of action for another fortnight but Juliano Belletti is close to a return following an ankle injury.

As well as Ashton, the Hammers will also be without Kieron Dyer (broken leg), Danny Gabbidon (groin) and Jonathan Spector (thigh) for the short trip across the capital.


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Match Report

Nicolas Anelka salvaged a point for Chelsea but it was not enough to overcome West Ham United and reclaim top spot in the Premier League table.

The west Londoners came back from trailing to a Craig Bellamy strike to stay in second place just one point behind Liverpool, who also failed to win this weekend.

Chelsea's home form is alarming as they have now dropped 14 points at Stamford Bridge.

West Ham were fully deserving of their share of the spoils for refusing to hold back and they frequently disturbed the home defence.

Chelsea bossed the opening stages of the match and a Frank Lampard rasper from 30 yards was deflected for a corner by Calum Davenport on 20 minutes.

But it was the visitors who drew first blood with their first real attack on 33 minutes.

Mark Noble battled down to the Chelsea byline before cutting the ball back to Craig Bellamy ten yards out.

The Wales striker took a touch before lashing home with his right foot between Petr Cech and the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari replaced Michael Ballack at half-time with Didier Drogba and the plan worked as within six minutes the Blues were level.

A moved started in midfield by Lampard saw the ball fizz first to John Obi Mikel and then to Drogba.

Lampard then dinked the ball into the path of Anelka who tucked home a smart right-footer past Robert Green from eight yards to notch up his 14th of the season and 100th career goal in the Premier League.

Lampard let fly from just outside the penalty area on 56 minutes but Green collected the ball with a smart save and the same player forced an even better stop from the keeper moments later.

Chelsea almost went into the lead when, from a corner, Drogba smashed a fierce drive but Green produced an excellent save to parry the ball away.

Salomon Kalou replaced Joe Cole on 74 minutes and the winger immediately had a strike on goal which was again saved by Green.

Green almost gifted Chelsea a goal after spilling a Lampard corner onto his own crossbar on 79 minutes before saving well from Drogba seconds later.

Chelsea appealed for a penalty two minutes from time when Lampard appeared to be upended by Lucas Neill, but referee Mike Riley waved play on.

Cech saved brilliantly from Carlton Cole who found himself with just the goalkeeper to beat in the last minute but could not find a winner for the hard-working Hammers.

Chelsea

West Ham United

Corners

94

Fouls

1320

Goal attempts

204

Shots off target

72

Offsides

23

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