Chelsea gave their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League a huge boost on Saturday evening as they recorded a 1-0 victory over 10-man West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Timo Werner scored the only goal of the contest in the English capital, and the win has seen fourth-placed Chelsea move three points clear of fifth-placed West Ham in the table.
It did appear that a largely uneventful first period would be ending goalless, with the visitors enjoying the better of the action without particularly threatening to make the breakthrough.
The Blues took the lead just before the interval, though, when an excellent low cross from Ben Chilwell was turned into the back of the net by Werner, who had been the best player on the pitch in the first half.
Werner had an excellent chance to score again early in the second period, but the Germany international fired wide of the post after Lukasz Fabianski had saved from Mason Mount.
West Ham did improve as the second half progressed, with Jesse Lingard coming close, but it was not to be for David Moyes's side, who saw Fabian Balbuena sent off late on following a challenge on Chilwell.
Next up for Chelsea is a trip to Real Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night, while West Ham will resume their league campaign away to Burnley on May 3.
HIGHLIGHTS
4th min: Half-chance for Chelsea early on as Mount picks out Werner with a smart cross, but the Germany international hooks his effort over the West Ham goal.
10th min: Mount does brilliantly to work the space inside the West Ham box before unleashing a shot towards goal, but Fabianski is down to make a comfortable save.
15th min: Fabianski has to make another good stop for the Hammers as the experienced goalkeeper keeps out a low strike from Christian Pulisic, who had found space in a dangerous area.
31st min: Chelsea again break down the left through Mount, who feeds the ball into Werner, but the forward turns and fires over the crossbar as the score remains goalless.
36th min: West Ham appeal for a handball as Tomas Soucek strikes the ball towards goal; it hits Cesar Azpilicueta, but the decision is 'no penalty' for the home side.
NO PENALTY! ❌
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2021
West Ham want a penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta blocks Soucek's shot but the VAR rules against it.
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43rd min: Chelsea make the breakthrough in the 43rd minute of the clash at the London Stadium as Werner fires home from close range after meeting a low cross from Chilwell.
WERNER FIRES CHELSEA IN FRONT! 🔵
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2021
The German does well to start the move before side-footing home Chilwell's cutback 🇩🇪
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55th min: Huge chance for Werner to score a second as Fabianski palms an attempt from Mount into the path of the German, but he fires wide of the post from a narrow angle.
WERNER HAS TO SCORE! 😳
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2021
Mount's shot is pushed by Fabianski into the path of Timo Werner but he scuffs his shot wide from yards out.
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56th min: Decent stop from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to keep out a strike from Pablo Fornals, who had unleashed one from the edge of the box; the attempt is the home side's first on target.
60th min: So close for West Ham as the ball bounces kindly for Lingard, who lifts one towards the far corner, but it just moves wide of the post. Incredibly close to 1-1 at the London Stadium.
63rd min: Smart save from Fabianski to keep out a powerful attempt from Mount, who continues to find space in dangerous positions for the away side.
67th min: Werner brings another smart stop from Fabianski, with the German working the ball into the box before hitting the target with a powerful strike.
79th min: VAR have a look at a possible red card as Balbuena catches Chilwell with a loose foot, and the referee is then sent across to the monitor.
81st min: The referee comes across and produces a red card for Balbuena, who caught Chilwell after playing the ball; it looked to be an incredibly harsh decision from the official.
RED CARD! 🔴
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2021
Fabian Balbuena is sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh after he caught Ben Chilwell with his follow through. What do you make of the decision?
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88th min: Hakim Ziyech flashes one wide of the post from distance after Chelsea break forward in search of a second goal, which would kill off any hopes of a West Ham comeback.
91st min: Mount has one deflected wide of the post from distance, and more precious seconds pass as Chelsea close in on a vital three points at this stage of the season.
96th min: Mount does brilliantly to work the ball into the West Ham box before delivering a cross towards Tammy Abraham, but the forward heads over the crossbar from close range.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MASON MOUNT
© Reuters
Mount has been Chelsea's standout player in a number of matches this season and that was again the case on Saturday evening as he inspired his side to an important three points.
The England international caused West Ham all sorts of problems in the final third of the field, while his energy all over the park was infectious, particularly in the second half when the Hammers were pushing forward.
Mount ended the 90 minutes of action with a pass success rate of 89%, while he also had six shots and made four tackles during a brilliant all-round display at the London Stadium.
STANDOUT MOMENT
West Ham were reduced to 10 men in the latter stages of the contest when Balbuena was sent off following a challenge on Chilwell; there is no question that the centre-back caught the England international, but it appeared to be an incredibly harsh decision from the referee.
The Hammers were still very much in the match approaching the final 10 minutes, but the red card took the wind out of their sails and allowed Chelsea to close out the contest.
BEST STAT
20 - Timo Werner has been directly involved in 20 goals for Chelsea this season (11 goals, 9 assists); the most of any player for the club in all competitions. Threat.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 24, 2021
MATCH STATS
Possession: West Ham 44%-56% Chelsea
Shots: West Ham 9-16 Chelsea
Shots on target: West Ham 2-6 Chelsea
Corners: West Ham 4-2 Chelsea
Fouls: West Ham 9-10 Chelsea
LINEUPS
WEST HAM (3-4-1-2): Fabianski; Diop, Balbuena, Ogbonna; Coufal, Noble (Lanzini 69'), Soucek, Fredericks (Johnson 83'); Fornals (Benrahma 69'); Bowen, Lingard
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta (James 86'), Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Werner (Abraham 87'), Pulisic (Ziyech 74')
Matt Law
