HALF TIME: CHELSEA 1 IRONS 0
John Terry stabbed home a 31st minute goal to give Chelsea a half time lead after the Hammers had defended heroically for half an hour.
The defender stuck out a foot to prod past Adrian after Fabregas’ corner was headed down by Costa to break the Irons resistance.
The hosts had dominated and could have taken the lead after four minutes when a Wilan cross flew across the face of our back line but Oscar blasted over the top from close range.
And Cahill went close when heading over the top from a Terry clipped ball after getting above Jenkinson at the far post.
The Blues were threatening whenever they were on the ball but the Irons weren’t helped by referee Michael Oliver who pulled up Carroll for a perfectly good tackle as we threatened to break before booking Collins after he had got a touch on the ball as Costa broke through.
Adrian meanwhile was forced into two fabulous saves from a Cahill shot and Wilian after the Chelsea player’s run and shot had taken a deflection.
The Hammers had a moment when Noble was brought down and a Valencia free kick went over the top but it was by and large a fierce rearguard action.
Valencia – brought in for Sakho twice showed great pace to relieve the pressure on our defence – and Carroll, looking back to his best, were threatening on our rare forays forward.
