Chelsea combat again to beat West Ham as £75m signing Wesley Fofana 6/10 on debut

Chelsea obtained again to successful methods within the Premier League on Saturday as they accomplished a 2-1 comeback win over West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.

A gradual first half noticed little created from both facet. Whereas Chelsea loved the vast majority of the possession, a lot of their work was too cautious and straightforward to defend in opposition to from a West Ham perspective.

Jarrod Bowen began the second half strongly with some direct play that allowed him to get a cross in from the byline after beating Marc Cucurella, although that did little to ignite the house facet who continued to be annoyed by the Irons defence. Thomas Tuchel reacted on the hour mark by introducing Mason Mount and Armando Broja, solely to seek out his facet go 1-0 down simply moments later when Edouard Mendy‘s punch was directed straight into Declan Rice who assisted Michail Antonio for the opener.

Chelsea restored parity 16 minutes later when substitute Ben Chilwell directed the ball previous Lukasz Fabianski from a slender angle, and it was the 25-year-old concerned once more after he then minimize the ball again for Kai Havertz who put the Blues into the lead.

West Ham thought that they had an equaliser late-on when Maxwel Cornet smashed the ball into the again of the online from Mendy’s parry, just for a VAR evaluate to intervene that noticed Bowen adjudged to have fouled the goalkeeper seconds earlier than the end to offer Chelsea all three factors in entrance of their residence crowd.

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Positives

One of many few positives from Chelsea’s efficiency on the day was how they managed the sport for almost all of the match in opposition to a realistic West Ham setup. It is vital to have the ability to grind out video games within the Premier League, and so they did that in the present day with a bit assist from VAR.

Negatives

Tuchel’s facet did not do sufficient in attacking areas which noticed their high quality within the remaining third missing for an excessive amount of of the sport. Mendy additionally appeared to be low in confidence when being requested to take care of high-pressure conditions.

Supervisor score (out of 10)

Thomas Tuchel, 6 — A robust defensive effort, as is usually the case with Chelsea however, for a facet trying to qualify for the Champions League, Tuchel’s crew choice appeared too pragmatic in opposition to a West Ham facet who had been at all times going to look to defend from deep. Chilwell’s introduction labored out to be a superb resolution from the Blues supervisor.

Participant scores (1-10; 10 = greatest, gamers launched after 70 minutes get no score)

GK Edouard Mendy, 4 — Chelsea’s goalkeeper not often had a lot to take care of throughout the sport, and that will have affected his focus together with his clearance that went into the trail of Rice who assisted West Ham’s opener. Questionable play additionally noticed Mendy palm the ball out to Cornet for a possible equaliser, just for the purpose to be disallowed following a VAR evaluate.

DF Kalidou Koulibaly, 7 — Koulibaly reacted rapidly to issues creating on the left facet of the defence, with the Senegal worldwide fast to assist out Cucurella when he had obtained ahead.

DF Thiago Silva, 7 — An assured efficiency from the skilled centre-back who did not look to get out of second gear as he constantly handled West Ham’s assaults.

DF Wesley Fofana, 6 — Chelsea’s new £75 million centre-back did not look troubled on his Premier League debut for Chelsea, although that was partly as a result of West Ham’s lack of promise going ahead. The 21-year-old handed the ball nicely into the midfield, and he additionally discovered the best moments to run with the ball to assist bypass the Irons’ ahead line.

MF Marc Cucurella, 6 — Marc Cucurella appeared to get ahead when he may, although he struggled to make an influence when discovering himself in superior positions. Changed by Chilwell within the 72nd minute.

MF Mateo Kovacic, 6 — The Croatia worldwide at all times appeared to play ahead together with his passing, however could not appear to discover a option to play often by West Ham’s defensive strains.

MF Conor Gallagher, 7 — Gallagher appeared to get ahead and occupy the No. 10position, and he confirmed loads of intent to get Chelsea transferring in the best course. Gallagher’s work fee on each ends of the pitch additionally stood out, at one level taking a nook earlier than stopping the counter-attack himself.

MF Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 6 — Loftus-Cheek not often put a cross flawed however a lot of his work was protected as he appeared to transition the ball to the extra artistic gamers round him.

MF Reece James, 6 — The England worldwide was vivid many of the sport as he appeared to beat his man down the best flank. He could depend himself fortunate after his poor header again to his personal purpose noticed the resultant purpose chalked off by VAR.

FW Raheem Sterling, 7 — Sterling labored arduous to seek out house within the channels however his crew could not get the ball to him sufficient. He appeared to be Chelsea’s simplest participant when the Blues went 1-0 down, together with his crosses from broad positions asking questions of West Ham’s defence.

FW Christian Pulisic, 7 — The USMNT star ran the channels positively for Chelsea by which he was in a position to assist hyperlink loads of his facet’s most promising assaults. The 23-year-old was direct with the ball when in possession, however he may have been helped by higher motion from his crew.

Substitutes

Armando Broja (Gallagher, 61′), 6 — Broja noticed his effort stopped by Lukasz Fabianski which denied Chelsea an immediate equaliser.

Mason Mount (Pulisic, 61′), 6 — Mason Mount appeared to play rapidly when launched, and he additionally occupied areas that helped get Raheem Sterling on the ball extra.

Kai Havertz (Kovacic, 72′), N/R — The Germany worldwide made some clever runs that appeared to attach with crosses from Raheem Sterling, and it was from a cut-back that noticed Havertz put Chelsea into the lead late on.

Ben Chilwell (Cucurella, 72′), N/R — A fast influence from the bench noticed Ben Chilwell register the equaliser with a fragile contact previous Fabianski, earlier than helping the successful purpose.

Jorginho (Loftus-Cheek, 83′), N/R — Launched for the ultimate spell of the sport with Jorginho serving to enhance Chelsea’s tempo and leading edge from midfield.