West Ham grind out 3-1 win over Chelsea

It’s difficult to look past the missed penalty, but Enzo Fernandez was one of five strong midfield performances between the two teams.

Conor Gallagher and Lucas Paqueta battled all game on the edge, while James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek kept things very well organized in an ornery center of the park.

Raheem Sterling won a penalty and deserved his name on the score sheet. This was one of his best shifts in a while for Chelsea.

West Ham vs Chelsea player ratings (fbref.com)

“Teams like us we need to get the right balance. We didn’t manage well and we conceded, but we created many chances. First-half we should win the game, but second-half an isolated action, we conceded again and it was difficult. Overall, this type of game is difficult to explain. Maybe you were the better side, but you lose.”

“Frustration and disappointment with the penalty [missed]. We were playing well and we didn’t get the reward. Chukwuemeka’s injury changed a little bit the shape of the team. It was more difficult but after 10 minutes we started to again dominate the game until we again conceded with one action. We know West Ham is a team that tries to play deep and counter attack. They are dangerous on set pieces. Disappointed but this is only the beginning. We need to believe in the process. We’ve had a lot of players arrive the last few weeks. We are going to be strong and for sure we are going to be really competitive.”

Mauricio Pochettino’s wait for a first Chelsea win will have to wait until at least Friday, as the Blues could not find a goal while down one to 10-man West Ham.

Enzo Fernandez missed a penalty, yes, but the Blues’ problems in finishing stretched another week.

Chelsea had 76% possession and took 17 shots but all that matters little as the project waits another week for a win.

West Ham will feel great about its win after failing to nail down three points versus Bournemouth.

Moyes’ Conference League winners will be feeling good about avoiding another bottom three scrap this year.

Now West Ham will go to the spot.

Lucas Paqueta works the ball out of the corner with Emerson Palmieri, and Moises Caicedo snaps down the latter.

Paqueta makes no mistake with his penalty, and nails the ‘X’ celebration despite links to Man City and — allegedly — the disciplinary committee.

He’s worked like a dog out there. It’s a just reward for his performance.

West Ham, 3-1.

Expensive midfield import Edson Alvarez will play the final 10 minutes and stoppage for West Ham.

The Mexican international and Ajax star moves into the fold for James Ward-Prowse, who assisted the Irons’ opener.

Chelsea had inserted Noni Madueke for Conor Gallagher as it pushes for an opener.

Alvarez almost instantly blocks a Madueke dribble, but it’s for a corner.

Gusto exits for Mason Burstow.

Uh oh.

Moroccan center back Nayef Aguerd must’ve forgotten he’s on a yellow card.

Aguerd goes sliding into Nicolas Jackson from yards away, and the Chelsea man saw him coming and takes the goal scorer’s boot to the shin.

The Irons are going down to 10 men, and Chelsea will have 23 minutes plus whoever knows how much stoppage to level it up and go for a winner.

Said Benrahma’s been bright but he’ll have to make way for Angelo Ogbonna, and that’s a double blow for the Irons.

Ben Chilwell hands the captain’s armband to Thiago Silva, signaling the arrival of Moises Caicedo.

The richest incoming transfer in the history of any Premier League club sees Chelsea go to a back four with Levi Colwill at left back, Silva and Axel Disasi in the middle, and Malo Gusto on the right.

Michail Antonio has been scoring goals in the Premier League since — what?!? — 1997?

Kidding aside, Antonio is ready to feast and Axel Disasi is a huge part of it.

Disasi gives the ball away near midfield and Jarrod Bowen quickly finds Antonio.

Disasi tracks him down but lunges into his block and Antonio smashes it through the defender’s legs, across goal, and inside the far post.

The 33-year-old Jamaican international makes it nine-straight seasons with a Premier League goal, his 76th in all competitions for the Irons.

Legend.

2-1, West Ham.

Take away the score line and the numbers aren’t great for the hosts.

West Ham has completed 67 passes over 51 minutes of running clock.

Chelsea has 78% of the ball and a 2.08-0.73 advantage in expected goals.

The Blues have taken 10 of the game’s 16 shots and missed a couple of very good chances, holding a 5-2 margin in corner kicks.

The goal scorer cannot go on.

Carney Chukwuemeka requires treatment and it’s stretched out stoppage time.

But is it worse than it initially appeared? Chukwuemeka got to his feet and then went down again.

He’s not putting any wait on his left leg while being helped off the pitch by trainers after half.

Mykhailo Mudryk looks prepared to enter the fray.

Raheem Sterling drives the right side and cuts a pass toward three players, and there’s a Three Stooges comedy to the picture.

Nicolas Jackson swings at it but can’t reach it, Carney Chukwuemeka’s effort is more in line but similar, and then Ben Chilwell basically passes the ball into a sea of bodies.

Maybe a sign of things to come, though, as West Ham needs halftime.

Tomas Soucek’s sliding takedown of Raheem Sterling started outside the box but the ball was inside the box and that’s where Sterling hits the deck.

Enzo Fernandez heads to the spot and the Argentine is... saved by Alphonse Areola!

Fernandez went to his left and Areola was all over it.

A long throw is nodded down by Thiago Silva, but the clearance is only partial.

It falls to Lucas Paqueta, who cuts left and is a bit off-balance while letting loose a left-footed shot.

It takes a slight deflection and just misses the far post.

Still 1-1.

We said he’d been bright...

Carney Chukwuemeka has his first Chelsea goal and it’s a pretty one.

The Blues attack the Irons down the left through Nicolas Jackson, and West Ham deals with it.

But Ben Chilwell takes the ball back to the left side, and it ends up with ex-Villa starlet Chukwuemeka.

The 19-year-old shakes Tomas Soucek and rips a curler home before Kurt Zouma can close him down.

1-1.

The Blues are looking better with Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling at the heart of things.

Carney Chukwuemeka is also bright but West Ham is well-organized at the back with Aguerd, now on a yellow, leading the way.

Halfway through the half, West Ham’s ahead but Chelsea will feel their chances are coming soon.

Nicolas Jackson is sent through on goal and pushes the ball past a diving Alphonse Areola, who catches the Chelsea star on the foot.

Referee John Brooks points to the spot and then to the raised offside flag. VAR verifies the offside, which saves a review of the controversial call (which seemingly would’ve not been overturned).

The Irons are ahead off a James Ward-Prowse corner kick.

The Southampton import sends another terrific free kick toward the back post and it’ll be a duel between Conor Gallagher and Nayef Aguerd for the ball.

You’d fancy Aguerd to win a lot of those, and he’ll win all of them when the expected combatant barely bothers to be a part of the duel.

Thumped header home. JWP assist. West Ham, 1-0.

This has been a rough week for Lucas Paqueta.

Reports that he’s being investigated as part of irregular betting have seemingly cooled interest from Manchester City.

And now he needs treatment following a challenge with Conor Gallagher and an awkward fall. He returns to the pitch, however.

Now James Ward-Prowse sends his first dead ball into the Chelsea box, a corner kick, and there’s some buzz before the Blues clear the danger.

James Ward-Prowse will wear a club shirt that doesn’t read Southampton for the first time ever, starting with Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta in the midfield.

Fellow new Hammers signing Edson Alvarez is on the bench to start this London derby. The Mexican star joined for an approximate $42 million fee, according to Ajax.

Mauricio Pochettino gives the captain’s armband to Ben Chilwell with Reece James out, as Malo Gusto starts at right back for the Blues.

New signing Moises Caicedo starts on the bench, while it’s too soon for the involvement of Romeo Lavia.

Chelsea injuries

OUT: Christopher Nkunku (knee), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Armando Broja (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Marcus Bettinelli (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Reece James (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (thigh)

West Ham United injuries

None