Resilient Chelsea dig deep to edge past West Ham

Chelsea built on their League Cup success with a 1-0 victory over West Ham after an Eden Hazard header.

West Ham suffered an early blow when Winston Reid was replaced by James Collins in central defence. Chelsea exploited that weakness when Ramires’ cross from the right was headed in at close range by Hazard.

West Ham almost equalised when Diafra Sakho headed straight at Thibaut Courtois when it would have been easier to score. Kurt Zouma then received a rough challenge from Collins, but was able to play on in a half with plenty of zesty challenges.

In the second half, a flurry of chances for both teams in the approach to the hour mark were all wasted, with Thibaut Courtois and Adrian both pulling off close range saves.

Chelsea and West Ham both appeared tired from the weekend’s exertions, but neither could add to Hazard’s winner.

17’ - COURTOIS SAVE - Corner for West Ham on the right. Noble swings his cross away from Courtois, and it's cleared. Noble wins it back, slides it inside for Nolan, Kouyate reacts first, and his shot is straight at Courtois and behind.

22’ - GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Chelsea. Hazard scores - Fabregas finds Ramires running on the right of the box, and his simple cross is headed past Adrian by Hazard.

36’ - SAKHO HEADER - Jenkinson lifts in a great cross to the back post for Sakho's run, and he heads down to the low corner, and Courtois stoops to palm away.

50’ - SAKHO MISS - Kouyate shoots into the path of Sakho, who spins in the box and slams a shot just wide of the top corner.

56’ - RAMIRES SHOT - Adrian claims Oscar's cross. West Ham break, and Cahill clears in the box to stop the ball reaching Sakho. Ramires then steams up the pitch with Hazard and Costa. He cuts onto his left and sends his shot against the post.

58’ - ADRIAN SAVE - Hazard chips in a cross for Ramires at the back post, unmarked, and he heads his effort straight against Adrian.

60’ - COURTOIS SAVE - Downing advances on goal, passes through for Sakho to his left, and his low shot is blocked by Courtois.

90+4’ - CRESSWELL BLOCK - Hazard is through on goal, takes a touch, slides it right for Willian. The keeper is stranded, and his low shot is blocked on the line by Cresswell.

Jose Mourinho has a record of seven wins and no defeats in eight Barclays Premier League matches as a coach against West Ham.

Chelsea have won 14 and lost just one of the last 18 Barclays Premier League games against the Hammers.

West Ham have failed to score in six of their last seven Premier League matches against Chelsea, including the last five in a row.

The Blues have lost just two of their last 17 Premier League away matches (W11 D4 L2).

Only one team has prevented Chelsea from scoring in their last 28 Premier League matches (Sunderland).

The Hammers have won just one of their last 11 Premier League matches (W1 D5 L5).

This could be the match that Chelsea finally won the league. With a game in hand on City, they dug deep after the strains of the League Cup final to get past a much-improved West Ham side. They are now five points clear, with the possibility of making it eight if they win their match in hand. It is up to Mourinho to juggle his resources with the Champions League ahead of him.

Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea): He maintained his focus throughout the match, and had kept his sharpness despite missing out on the match against Spurs. In both halves he was called upon to make smart, reflex stops, and he kept Chelsea in the game at moments of great pressure.

West Ham: Adrian 7, Jenkinson 6, Tomkins 6, Reid 6, Cresswell 6, Noble 6, Kouyate 6, Downing 6, Valencia 6, Sakho 6. Subs: Collins 6, Nene 6.

Chelsea: Courtois 7, Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 6, Zouma 6, Ramires 7, Fabregas 6, Oscar 6, Hazard 7, Diego Costa 6. Subs: Willian 6, Drogba 6, Remy 6.