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Match Analysis: Chelsea 0-0 West Ham United

Sports Mole analyses the Premier League meeting between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea met West Ham United in their Premier League match this evening.

The Blues came close to opening the scoring early on, when Eden Hazard hit the bar.

John Terry, Samuel Eto'o and Ramires wasted further chances to open the scoring, before Demba Ba hit the post in stoppage time.

Frank Lampard had their last chance of the evening, but could not beat Adrian, and the match finished in a goalless draw.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the events that unfolded at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea:
Shots 37
On Target 8
Possession 72%
Corners 13
Fouls 12

West Ham:
Shots 1
On Target 1
Possession 28%
Corners 3
Fouls 11

Was the result fair?

Chelsea completely dominated from start to finish and will consider themselves extremely unlucky not to have won this evening. The visitors came into this game with a defensive mind-set and never looked like troubling their opponents. The Blues had 37 attempts on goal, but due to a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Adrian, they were forced to settle for a point.

Chelsea's performance

Jose Mourinho's men had 72% of the possession and a host of chances, but could not break through a stubborn West Ham backline. They were frustrated by a side that had everyone behind the ball and found it hard to get in behind the defence. Chelsea may be left ruing their inability to have made the most of their chances if these two dropped points prove to be crucial in deciding the title.

West Ham's performance

The Hammers were set up by Sam Allardyce to defend this evening, and they will have impressed their manager by clinging on to a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge. They managed only one shot on goal all evening, and saw little of the ball, but their determined performance will have delighted their fans, and proved that they are up for the challenge of a relegation battle.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Adrian: West Ham keeper Adrian was inspirational this evening, and was crucial in his side keeping a clean sheet. He tipped Hazard's early effort onto the bar and blocked close-range strikes from Terry and Eto'o in the first half. After the break, he continued to keep Chelsea at bay, and in the final minute of stoppage time, he was alert to block a strike from Lampard and earn his team a point.

Biggest gaffe

We may have been talking about a famous West Ham win, had Andy Carroll not made such a mess of a shot in the second half. He was picked out at the back post by Stewart Downing, and with just the keeper to beat, he completely missed the ball. It may be harsh to be so critical of him after months out injured, but a striker of his quality should have done much better in that situation.

Referee's performance

Neil Swarbrick handed out four yellow cards for deserving fouls, and got the big calls correct. He had an awkward moment at the end of the game, when Eto'o thought the keeper had wrongly placed the ball for a free kick and ran in to score, but he rightly disallowed the strike.

What next?

Chelsea: The Blues face league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium next Monday.

West Ham: West Ham welcome Swansea City to Upton Park on Saturday.

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Written by
Alex Meyers
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West Ham's Kevin Nolan and Chelsea's Eden Hazard in action during their Premier League match on January 29, 2014
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