Lanzini consolation but oh how we needed Antonio

Lanzini’s goal gave the scoreline a respectable look 

Irons 1 Chelsea 2

Well, perhaps the best thing we can say about tonight was that West Ham didn’t collapse before a very talented Chelsea team.

But they did themselves few favours notably when a sloppy Mark Noble pass saw a host of our players the wrong side of the ball as the west Londoners broke away to score through Eden Hazard after 25 minutes.

In fairness the captain had not performed at all badly but you really can’t make those sort of mistakes against such a top counter-attacking team and his efforts afterwards therefore following it pale into insignificance.

It handed Chelsea lead they didn’t deserve at the time after we had controlled the game to a large extent.

And when Costa kneed home a second in the 50th minute there was no way back although a fine injury time strike by Lanzini gave the scoreline a far more respectable look

It could and probably would have been a far different story had the hustle and bustle of Michail Antonio been available because at no time did the Hammers carry the sort of threat that he provides. If ever we needed Antonio it was tonight.

There was far too much sideways and backwards motion and when the ball did go forward to Andy Carroll there was still a significant inability for anyone to latch onto the knock-ons and flick downs he provides.

Randolph was forced to make a couple of world class saves, Snodgrass looked lively all evening but Reid hobbled off with what looks like a significant injury.

In the end there could be no complaints. We are in far better and more resilient shape than we were in the pre-Payet days and Bournemouth on Saturday won’t – HOPEFULLY – pose the worst of problems Chelsea did tonight.

Yes a disappointing evening but we are a team with much more about us these days,