West Ham Fail To Convert Chances As Chelsea Triumph

EPL: Frank Lampard - Luis Boa Morte, West Ham United - Chelsea (PA)

West Ham United and Chelsea's recent history has only added to this London rivalry. While the Blues have bought Hammers academy graduates such as Glen Johnson, Joe Cole, and Frank Lampard, West Ham now have two former Chelsea sons - Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke - tutoring them in impressive fashion.

The east-enders, though, could not get one over their west London visitors this afternoon, and it was Chelsea who emerged triumphant through a slim one-goal margin despite referee Mike Dean's awarding of the home side a penalty, which Mark Noble tried to tuck into the bottom corner only for Petr Cech to block the ball strolling into his net. Ivorian international Salomon Kalou's second half strike separated the two teams at the final whistle.

Chelsea started the game strongly, and dominated possession from the off, but Lampard was in for tough treatment from the home support, for as soon as he got his first touches on the football he was immediately jeered.

West Ham's summer signing last year, Diego Tristan, who has featured only intermittently this campaign for Zola's outfit, looked pretty lively throughout the first half, and laid on a nice pass to Kieron Dyer, only for the Englishman to have his shot saved by Cech.

Tristan then popped up before the break to give Guus Hiddink's men a temporary scare when he his headed effort had to be cleared off the line.

It took Chelsea just ten minutes after the re-start to break the deadlock. Frank Lampard lifted a cross into the path of Robert Green's palm, but the England hopeful spilled the ball toward Kalou who took the chance and Green's next task was to pluck the ball out of the goal.

West Ham had a great chance to level the tie when Kalou pulled down Ilunga in his own area and conceded a penalty kick.

Chelsea were let off the hook, though, when Mark Noble's attemped conversion met the clutches of Petr Cech, and the Blues - from then on in - managed to hold onto their slender lead and claim all the points.

LINE UPS

West Ham United
Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Boa Morte, Noble, Stanislas, Dyer, Tristan, Di Michele.

Chelsea
Cech, Mancienne, Ivanovic, Terry, Bosingwa, Mikel, Belletti, Kalou, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka.

Referee
Mike Dean

Attendence
34,749

Goal-Scorer
Salomon Kalou (55).

Steve Michaels, Goal.com