Chelsea hold out for three points
Jose Mourinho's side ensured no repeats of the loss to Spurs
Also In The News
|
Darren Bent could be sold in January to help bring in fresh blood and save Charlton from relegation. |  |
Saturday, 18, Nov 2006 07:17
Chelsea recorded a narrow 1-0 win over fellow Londoners West Ham to maintain the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the Premiership.
The Blues started with the confidence befitting a team who have won their last two outings 4-0 and looked in no mood for another derby defeat after being overturned by Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago.
Although they scored first in the corresponding fixture last year, there seemed little chance of West Ham grabbing an early lead from any of their brief forays forward this time around.
After 22 minutes the hosts' pressure was impressed on the scoresheet through the unlikely route of Cameroon international Geremi.
The 27-year-old's free kick left Robert Green well beaten as it wrapped around the wall and into the top corner, to the delight of the majority in Stamford Bridge.
West Ham ensured that Chelsea could never entirely relax, however, and Matthew Etherington volleyed narrowly wide as the half drew to a close.
Michael Essien shook the post with a thumping shot after the break as Didier Drogba and Arjen Robben were denied by some committed defending by the visitors' rearguard.
John Terry bounced a header over the bar and Drogba saw a goal ruled out for offside as the second goal refused to appear and the possibility of a leveler still lurked.
But West Ham had little cutting edge up front to back up the threat and when Anton Ferdinand's header cleared the bar late on defeat was assured.