Leading up to the match, West Ham were on a three match winless run, with a 1-1 draw with Stoke, and two back to back losses against Tottenham and Manchester United. Whereas Chelsea came into the game with two consecutive 0-0 home draws against Man City and Fulham. With Rafa looking for his first elusive win as Blues boss, and the Hammers looking to stop the rot, it was always going to an explosive action-packed game.
The pre-match line ups shocked many Hammers fans, as Gary O'Neil found his way back into the Hammers side in place of in-form Momo Diame, who was on the bench. O'Neil was coming in from the bench cold to replace a man who had been arguably West Ham's best player up to this point of the season. It was a tactic that Allardyce was hoping would work.
The decision to start O'Neil looked to have backfired at the start of the game, as Chelsea dominated the first half through their pace and quick passing, which West Ham could not live with. The Hammers were missing their Senegalese powerhouse, but they had to play the half without him. Chelsea took an early lead, as Victor Moses sent Fernando Torres down the line, who pulled the ball back to Spaniard Juan Mata. Where Mata from inside the box, side-footed the ball into the corner of the Hammers net. Chelsea had several other chances which they wasted including a great chance for Victor Moses but Joey O'Brien had quick reactions to clear.
The second half was a completely different story, as Allardyce knew a change was needed in the weak, slow and fragile midfield. O'Neil was taken off and replaced by Diame, a straight swap. Diame brought a new lease of life to the side. The Hammers were battering the Chelsea side all over the park, there was a role reversal of Men vs Boys. Chelsea were looking like boys, and West Ham's second-half dominance finally paid off, as Matt Jarvis' cross took a huge deflection off Gary Cahill, looping up into the air. As the ball rolled down, Carlton Cole 'outmuscled' Ivanovic to head the ball past Petr Cech. It was Cole's first goal against Chelsea, and first of the season. Cole had been second best to Andy Carroll, who picked up an injury in the midweek game against Man Utd, allowing Cole to start the game.
The Hammers rode their luck after the equaliser, as Juan Mata hit the post from a free-kick, which had Finnish goalie Jaaskelainen beaten. The free-kick struck the post and was cleared. There was only a few minutes of the ninety remaining, when West Ham earned a throw in. O'Brien saw Cole gained a bit of room from his marker, he threw it to the big man, who turned the defender and laid it off to man of the match Diame. The Senegalese was unmarked outside the box, and slotted the ball with the outside of his foot under Cech. The Hammers were leading with six minutes to go, and they completed the rout when Ashley Cole's pass was intercepted by Maiga, who put Taylor through one on one. Taylor's left foot shot was parried straight to Maiga inside the box who barried the ball into the back of the net. The game ended 3-1.
It was the first time West Ham fans had a chance to get one over their west London rivals. It was the first win against Chelsea since 2003, when Paolo Di Canio's only goal in his last game at Upton Park kept the Hammers in with a shout to stay in the Premier League. This was the game of the season, due to the work rate, determination of the team and brilliant turnaround against a team who dominated the first half with great ease. Diame's influence on the side changed the game, and whether Allardyce intended to use Diame for an effective 45 minutes, only he knows.
Come On You Irons!
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