Chelsea came back from the dead Saturday to overturn a two-goal first half deficit to win a Premier League game for the first time ever as they ran out 3-2 victors against West Ham United in a thrilling London derby, climbing into the top four as a result.
After an impressive 3-2 win over Napoli in midweek, Rosenior boldly made seven changes to his starting XI, and an early sight of goal for West Ham’s Taty Castellanos was an indicator that the Chelsea boss had overplayed his hand.
The opening 15 minutes of the Hammers’ PL games this term had produced a league-high 14 goals, and another duly arrived here as the visitors reaped the rewards of their brilliant start.
Jarrod Bowen’s cross from the inside right evaded the outstretched Pablo, but had enough whip on it to sneak inside the far post and mark the West Ham captain’s fourth successive goal to arrive inside the opening half-hour of games.
Chelsea’s attack, led by the returning Cole Palmer, proved ineffective throughout a dreadful first half for the hosts. West Ham clearly targeted the Blues’ left flank as an area to exploit, and Jorrel Hato and Alejandro Garnacho consistently had no answer to the questions posed by the double act of Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s men deservedly doubled their lead on 36’ when that dynamic duo combined, with Bowen finding Wan-Bissaka to cut back for Crysencio Summerville, who slammed home his fourth goal in as many games.
