Goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard ensured Chelsea came away with an important 2-1 win against West Ham on Monday night, reestablishing their 10-point lead at the top of the English Premier League in the process.
After Tottenham Hotspur had temporarily trimmed the Blues’ lead with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Everton on Sunday, Antonio Conte’s men were under pressure to beat their derby rivals at the London Stadium.
Cesc Fabregas continued his run of starting for Chelsea, with Nemanja Matic on the bench but it was another midfielder who proved pivotal in the opening goal.
Chelsea were defending a free kick deep in their own half when N’Golo Kante made yet another interception and released Eden Hazard on the left wing. The Belgian winger played a quick one-two with Pedro before accelerating past trailing West Ham defenders and rounding Darren Randolph to open Chelsea’s account in the 25th minute.
The visitors continued to assert their dominance and should have doubled their lead when Hazard teed up Diego Costa for a simple tap-in, but the cross was a shade behind the forward and the Hammers were let off for the moment.
With the score leading 1-0 in Chelsea’s favour at half time, Conte must have felt another goal was required to put the game beyond doubt and his side responded early on in the second half.
Fabregas sent in a corner from the left and the ball came into Costa’s path who made no mistake from inside the six yards box to double Chelsea’s lead in the 50th minute.
Costa then came close to scoring his second and Chelsea’s third after a brilliant pirouette inside the box but Randolph made a stunning save to keep his side in the game.
Manuel Lanzini would pull one back for West Ham in the 92nd minute after a tiring Chelsea had been caught out but it was too little too late and Chelsea hung on for their 21st league win of the season.
On 66 points from 27 games played, Chelsea are sitting pretty on the top of the pile with their closest rivals, Tottenham, some way back with 56 points.
It really is their title to lose now, as with just 11 games only the most optimistic Tottenham fan would think that their side can still overhaul the Blues.