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    West Ham 3-1 Chelsea: Hammers serve up shock for Benitez’s blues

    West Ham players celebrate

    By Anton Stanley | Saturday, December 1, 2012

     

    Rafael Benitez’s turbulent start to life as Chelsea manager continued as his men were beaten 3-1 by West Ham at Upton Park.

    Blues fans were unhappy with the Spaniard’s appointment after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked and two 0-0 draws heaped the pressure on him immediately.

    And now the Stamford Bridge fans will be left furious with Roman Abramovich’s decision to change managers as their side threw away a one goal lead against their London rivals.

    The Blues took the lead after just 13 minutes as Fernando Torres’ low cross was placed beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen following excellent work on the wing by Victor Moses, but three minutes later the club’s fans were still singing the name of former boss Di Matteo.

    Eden Hazard and Torres both had chances to double their lead but it was West Ham who had the ball in the back of the net next, although Kevin Nolan saw his strike disallowed after James Collins was adjudged to have fouled Branislav Ivanovic.

    Petr Cech was then amidst a flurry of action as he was first booked for handling outside the area and then tipped the resulting free-kick over the bar from Nolan.

    Hammers boss Sam Allardyce brought on Matt Taylor and Mohamed Diame for James Tomkins and the ineffectual Gary O’Neil and that saw the game swing in their favour as they began to dominate.

    And after 63 minutes Carlton Cole, against his old side, brought them level. He got above Ivanovic and headed the ball home from Matthew Jarvis’ deflected cross to give the hosts a deserved equaliser.

    Chelsea nearly edged themselves back in front just minutes later when his whipped free-kick crashed off the post.

    But, after a period of intense pressure, West Ham grabbed the lead four minutes from time as Diame slammed home following a superb tee up from Cole.

    And the Hammers sealed all three points as Modibo Maiga thrashed the ball in to an empty net after Taylor’s strike was parried by Cech, sending Allardyce and his coaching staff in to a dance of delirium on the touchline.