

Tammy Abraham scored twice as Chelsea ended their recent mini-slump by beating West Ham United at Stamford Bridge to move up to fifth in the Premier League.
Back-to-back defeats had seen the Blues slip down the table but they made the ideal start on Monday as Thiago Silva powered home a header in the 10th minute.
Timo Werner spurned a couple of good chances to add to the hosts’ lead but he played his part in his side’s second 12 minutes from time as his scuffed shot was turned in by Abraham.
The Chelsea striker, back in the side in place of Olivier Giroud, then netted another barely two minutes later when he was in the right place to pick up the loose ball and curl home after Christian Pulisic had missed a simple header from a cross.
The scoreline somewhat flattered Chelsea with West Ham having been the better side for large periods, but the visitors paid the price for a lack of a cutting edge as they finished the game without a shot on target.
Chelsea nervy but back to winning ways
Chelsea started this month being talked about as potential title contenders. They had topped the table after a win over Leeds, but losses to Everton and Wolves had left them in eighth and desperate to rediscover their early season form.
Silva’s early goal helped settle the nerves a little but their play soon became scrappy and West Ham took control instead.
However, Chelsea found the Hammers enduring a rare off day in front of goal – this was only the second time this season that David Moyes’ side had failed to score in the Premier League – and when Abraham slid in their second late on the Blues were able to breathe a sigh of relief.
It was a much-needed win for Frank Lampard’s team, with the only real frustration the continued disappointing form of Werner in front of goal.
This was the eighth game in a row that the Germany international has failed to find the back of the net, with misses at the end of both halves very much those of a striker low on confidence, first hitting a tame effort from a good position at Lukasz Fabianski, then heading on to the crossbar when it looked easier to score.
What next?
Chelsea travel to Arsenal in the league on Saturday, 26 December (17:30 GMT), while West Ham host Brighton on Sunday, 27 December (14:15).
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Chelsea
Starting XI
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Squad number16Player nameMendy
Average rating6.35
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Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Average rating6.51
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Squad number15Player nameZouma
Average rating6.71
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Average rating7.38
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Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Average rating5.33
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Squad number7Player nameKanté
Average rating6.60
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Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Average rating5.66
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Squad number19Player nameMount
Average rating6.60
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Squad number10Player namePulisic
Average rating6.84
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Squad number9Player nameAbraham
Average rating7.06
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Squad number11Player nameWerner
Average rating5.62
Substitutes
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Squad number17Player nameKovacic
Average rating6.24
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Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Average rating5.66
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Squad number33Player nameEmerson
Average rating6.05
West Ham United
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameFabianski
Average rating5.92
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Squad number5Player nameCoufal
Average rating5.93
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Squad number4Player nameBalbuena
Average rating5.57
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Squad number21Player nameOgbonna
Average rating5.73
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Squad number3Player nameCresswell
Average rating5.17
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Squad number28Player nameSoucek
Average rating5.97
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Squad number41Player nameRice
Average rating6.63
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Squad number20Player nameBowen
Average rating6.09
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Squad number16Player nameNoble
Average rating5.13
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Squad number18Player nameFornals
Average rating5.14
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Squad number22Player nameHaller
Average rating4.41
Substitutes
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Squad number9Player nameBenrahma
Average rating5.52
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Squad number24Player nameFredericks
Average rating4.82
Line-ups
Chelsea
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 15Zouma
- 6Thiago Silva
- 21ChilwellSubstituted forEmersonat 10′minutes
- 7Kanté
- 5JorginhoSubstituted forKovacicat 66′minutes
- 19Mount
- 10PulisicSubstituted forHavertzat 84′minutes
- 9Abraham
- 11Werner
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 2Rüdiger
- 4Christensen
- 17Kovacic
- 18Giroud
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 23Gilmour
- 29Havertz
- 33Emerson
West Ham
- 1Fabianski
- 5Coufal
- 4Balbuena
- 21Ogbonna
- 3Cresswell
- 28Soucek
- 41Rice
- 20BowenSubstituted forFredericksat 90′minutes
- 16Noble
- 18FornalsSubstituted forBenrahmaat 67′minutes
- 22Haller
Substitutes
- 7Yarmolenko
- 9Benrahma
- 11Snodgrass
- 15Dawson
- 23Diop
- 24Fredericks
- 25Martin
- 31Johnson
- 35Randolph
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea 3, West Ham United 0.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, West Ham United 0.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Ryan Fredericks replaces Jarrod Bowen.
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Timo Werner (Chelsea) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by N’Golo Kanté.
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Substitution, Chelsea. Kai Havertz replaces Christian Pulisic.
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N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Sébastien Haller (West Ham United).
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Foul by Mason Mount (Chelsea).
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Mark Noble (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! Chelsea 3, West Ham United 0. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner.
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Attempt saved. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross.
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Goal! Chelsea 2, West Ham United 0. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Timo Werner.
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Attempt blocked. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mason Mount.
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Foul by Mason Mount (Chelsea).
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Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United).
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Foul by Emerson (Chelsea).
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Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
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