Chelsea enjoy dominant win over West Ham

Chelsea looked in imperious form as goals from John Terry and Diego Costa gave them a 2-0 win at home to West Ham on Boxing Day.

Chelsea had evidently not overdone the festivities, showing focus and strength for the opening 45 minutes. They dominated possession and territory, and came close to opening up West Ham on a number of occasions with short passes around the box.

It was a set piece that opened the scoring, though, when Diego Costa flicked on a corner for John Terry to stab in at the back post. In the second half, Chelsea found the going just as easy, and Costa doubled the lead when receiving a pass from Eden Hazard, engineering some room in the box and sending a low shot into the far corner.

From the moment that Chelsea scored their first, the result appeared to be in almost no danger, and with Chelsea's late flurry of chances, West Ham were fortunate to only concede twice.

The Blues remain three points clear of Manchester City, who beat West Brom 3-1 later in the day.

4' - OSCAR MISS: An early chance for Oscar. He latches onto a cross from Willian and fizzes a shot just wide of the goal. The best chance so far. Well, the only one really.

21' - ADRIAN SAVE - Carroll heads away at the near post, and the corner comes back to Fabregas. He sends in another cross for Cahill, and Adrian does well to block his effort, a shot at the near post.

29' - WILLIAN SHOT:The effort from Fabregas is easily saved. Willian then has an attempt of his own. He breaks from midfield into space, and drives a shot at goal that Adrian beats away.

31' - GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 West Ham. Terry scores: Costa flicks on a corner from the right to the back post, and Terry can stab a foot towards the ball for an easy goal.

34' - ADRIAN SAVE: After six million passes around the box, and the ball is worked to Matic, who curls a shot to the far bottom corner, and Adrian does well to palm the ball away.

52' - HAZARD SHOT: Willian strides forward unopposed and shifts the ball left to Eden Hazard in the box. He cuts onto his right foot and smashes a shot at Adrian that he punches away.

62' - GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 West Ham. Costa scores: Costa receives the ball from Hazard, who won possession the halfway line. He drives into the box, and twists away from three defenders before sending a shot into the far corner.

88' - AMALFITANO HITS THE BAR: Chelsea sit off West Ham and Amalfitano drives from close range, only to see the shot bounce off the woodwork.

Costa is halfway to equalling the record for yellow cards, having had seven already this season.

Costa is now equal with Charlie Austin, with nine goals, at the top of the Premier League scoring charts.

In each of the last 41 league games that Costa has scored in, his side has won.

Chelsea demonstrated why they are the best team by far in the Premier League. Manchester City have enjoyed a recent resurgence despite losing all their strikers to injury, and narrowed the gap at the top of the table. Against West Ham, Chelsea demonstrated that they have the best concentration, midfielder, defence and attacking players in the league, and they should take confidence into the rest of the busy winter period.

Nemanja Matic (Chelsea): In combination with Cesc Fabregas he provides intelligent defensive cover, but with teams like West Ham dropping so deep, he is also able to keep the attack ahead of him in possession of the ball in the best areas. It might have been a set piece that decided the match, but Matic was essential for creating the pressure that brought the corner.

Chelsea: Courtois 6, Ivanovic 6, Azpilicueta 6, Terry 7, Cahill 7, Matic 7, Fabregas 7, Oscar 7, Willian 7, Hazard 7, Costa 7. Subs: Ramires 6, Drogba 6, Mikel 6.

West Ham: Adrian 7, Reid 5, Cresswell 6, Collins 6, Jenkinson 6, Kouyate 6, Noble 6, Nolan 5, Downing 5, Carroll 5, Valencia 6. Subs: Sakho 6, Amalfitano 6, Song 5.