Chelsea drop first points at West Ham

Chelsea drop first points at West Ham

Chelsea’s 100% start to the season came to an end as they were held to a goalless draw by West Ham in a low-key encounter at London Stadium.

Manager Maurizio Sarri started his Blues reign with five straight Premier League wins – but they could not maintain the record against a battling Hammers side.

And in the end Chelsea were grateful for Andriy Yarmokenko’s glaring second-half miss, when he headed wide with only keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to beat and the goal at his mercy, for not suffering their first defeat.

The visitors had chances of their own, with West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski saving well from substitutes Alvaro Morata and Ross Barkley – but in the end a draw was a fair result in a game that rarely sparked into life.

It is a result that drops Chelsea into third place behind Manchester City on goal difference and leaves Liverpool two points clear at the top of the table with a maximum return from their six games.

Yesterday, the brilliant Belgian was kept in check by West Ham and consequently the Blues’ threat was hugely reduced, with winger Pedro injured and striker Olivier Giroud on the periphery.

Chelsea’s best chance fell to the feet of substitute Morata after he replaced Giroud in the 65th minute, but he was thwarted by the bravery of Fabianski.

It summed up the visitors’ frustration as their 100% winning start came to an end in a performance that was flat and lacking in energy, perhaps understandable after Thursday’s trip to Greece to face PAOK in the Europa League..