Chelsea 4 West Ham United 1: match report

By Duncan White at Stamford Bridge 517PM GMT thirteen March 2010

Unstoppable force Didier Drogba is in the form of his hold up Photo AP

They are welcoming behind their old heroes to Stamford Bridge this week, nonetheless welcoming competence not be the right word. Gianfranco Zola left the track he used to disturb with his side cruel shamed by a Chelsea group that returned to the tip of the league.

Next, Jose Mourinho and his Internazionale group that will infer a some-more severe hearing than this, surely.

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Chelsea were desirous by a glorious Florent Malouda, who done the primary dual goals and scored the third. The France general was behind personification in his lucky purpose on the left wing, carrying deputised for the dangling Michael Ballack in midfield opposite Stoke City last weekend. He broken Jonathan Spector, the West Ham United right back, and Zola was even forced to switch Valon Behrami from the left to the right to try and assistance understanding with him. It didnt work.

The primary inapplicable designation for the opening idea came when Spectors lax pass was intercepted by Paulo Ferreira, who put Malouda transparent down the left. Spector recovered to plunge in to but conceded the corner. Malouda took it and West Ham could usually half-clear, Frank Lampard operative the round behind out to the left so Malouda could have a second punch at the cross. This time he picked out Alex, who, notwithstanding being 6"3 and built similar to a heavyweight, had managed to utterly evade West Hams somnolent markers to place his header past Rob Green.

With Malouda prevalent it looked similar to Chelsea would ease afar from West Ham prior to the glorious Scott Parker intervened. Kieran Dyer hurled the round in from the left it was laughable tainted throw and got it usually over the head of John Obi Mikel. Parker took it on his chest, let it rebound and lashed a shot with blur and energy in to the tip corner. Ross Turnbull, creation his primary joining begin in the Chelsea goal, had hardly got his hands on the round and there he was picking it out of the net.

Aside from that, West Ham struggled to set up awake aggressive moves. Zola had ill-advisedly selected to shift his total front line, personification Dyer on the left, Ilan on the right and Mido up front. Dyer is a shade of his former self, Mido still looks similar to he could lose some-more weight and Ilan competence kindly be described as puzzling the conundrum being how he ever managed to win 3 caps for Brazil. Ilans usually genuine grant was swiping a finish sitter of the club with the diversion still scoreless.

"The reason I altered my strikers is that I longed for to fool around a some-more counter-attacking diversion and indispensable discerning players," Zola pronounced of the inclusion of Dyer and Ilan. The ostracism of Carlton Cole, no disbelief to his good disappointment with Fabio Capello watching, was explained by Zola as being down to a knee damage that had authorised him to steer usually twice last week.

His namesake, Joe, was additionally left on the dais and afterwards attempted as well tough when he eventually did get on the pitch. Joe Cole needs contented diversion time if he is to get behind to his most appropriate and at his rate he is not going to get it. Game by diversion his World Cup hopes grow fainter.

He positively wouldnt be removing in the side brazen of Malouda, not on this form. The consequential second goal, that Zola conceded finished West Hams resistance, was again done by the Frenchman, 10 mins in to the second half. John Terry came surging brazen from the behind and drew in Spector and Behrami, that authorised Drogba to work the round to the free Malouda. Drogba afterwards peeled off the behind of Matthew Upson to find the space to head in Maloudas excellent cross.

Pumped up by the goal, Drogba was in full thespian mode, exchanging difference with the Chelsea dais and whinging ceaselessly at arbitrate Mark Clattenburg. Annoying as he is in this mood, it is mostly when he plays his most appropriate things and Upson was struggling to understanding with him. For Chelseas third he chested the round down to Malouda, who cut inside Danny Gabbidon far as well simply and shot low past Green from outward the box.

Malouda was cold late on, to concede the throng the possibility to give him a station ovation. "It was his most appropriate opening for us," Ancelotti said. "I idea he will fool around on Tuesday similar to he played today." Chelsea still had time to infer they could measure but him.

Frank Lampard sprinted at the West Ham counterclaim and was authorised a steer of idea by Upsons hapless event flashback to Egypts idea 10 days ago and whilst his shot lacked menace, Green constructed to brief it at Drogbas feet. The Ivorian slammed the round in to the dull net for his 27th idea of an additional prolific season. Not just credible from the England goalkeeper and primary haven centre back, though.

For Chelsea this was an critical appetizer brazen of Tuesdays main course. It helped them wash out that 4-2 better opposite Manchester City out of their complement and, with Internazionale contriving to lose 3-1 opposite Catania in Sicily on Friday night, they will acquire Mourinho behind to Stamford Bridge with confidence.