by Staff Writer
Saturday, 31st January 2026
Another second half collapse cost West Ham a chance of what would've been a huge three points in the battle to remain in the Premier League.
Two goals clear at the break through efforts from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, West Ham's biggest half time advantage at Stamford Bridge since 1986, the Hammers were in pole position at the half time interval to push on for the win.
However second half efforts from Pedro (57 minutes), Cucurella (70) and Fernandez, deep into injury time (90+2) ensured the points went to the home side - as the Hammers ended the game with only 10 men following the late dismissal of defender Jean-Clair Todibo for violent conduct.
Yet the match had started so well for West Ham, who were by far the better side in the opening 45. Chelsea, resting a number of players who were involved in the midweek win at Napoli were simply second best as the Hammers ran amok, scoring twice and threatening to double that tally.
It took just seven minutes for West Ham to take the lead after a brilliant start which left the hosts were on the backfoot from the first whistle. Jarrod Bowen's centre evaded everyone, including Pablo's outstretched boot, before nestling in the bottom left corner.
And that lead was doubled half-an-hour later when a superb move culminated with the ball being pulled back to Summerville, working his way into the penalty box from the right, who unleashed a piledriver that left goalkeeper Robert Sanchez no chance.
The second half started as brightly for the Irons, with Mateus Fernandes, Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen forcing saves from Sanchez inside the opening minutes. And therefore it was completely against the run of play when Pedro opened Chelsea's account with a far post header.
That goal out of nowhere - and the confidence-sapping effect it had on West Ham's players - triggered an immediate change in emphasis as West Ham changed instantly from a confident, counter attacking team to a side defending desperately.
The introduction of Max Kilman for Pablo a few minutes later only served to reinforce the notion that West Ham were no longer to be considered an attacking force as they effectively ceded two thirds of the pitch to Chelsea.
And therefore it was of little surprise when Cucurella levelled with 20 minutes of normal time remaining with a close range header, after West Ham were once again caught defending too deeply.
The final ten minutes saw a triple chance with Callum Wilson, Ollie Scarles and new signing Adama Traore introduced in place of Taty Castellanos, Malick Diouf and skipper Jarrod Bowen, who was feeling a knock he'd picked up in the first half respectively.
And, in fairness, they helped as West Ham threatened to spark a late revival - most notably when Todibo hit the post from close range, an effort he really should've scored with.
But in the end it was the same old story for the Hammers as Fernandes, assisted by Padro slammed home the winning goal in the second of five added-on minutes at the end of the game.
The game ended in farcical conditions when a melee by Chelsea's right-hand corner flag,, sparked by Traore literally tossing Cucurella across the pitch before forcing a frightrened Joao Pedro to retreat, led to Todibo - no doubt with that late miss on his mind - becoming unnecessarily involved.
The French defender grabbed an opponenet around the neck before Chelsea 'keeper Sanchez did the same to Todibo. However when VAR came to investigate the incident, there was only one red card to be shown - and that was to West Ham's Frecnh defender, who will now miss the next three matches as a consequence of his foolishness.
The resul leabes West Ham 18th in the Premier League, still five points adrift of 17th-place Nottingham Forest.
West Ham Utd: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf (Scarles 81), Fernandes, Soucek, Bowen (c) Traore (81), Summerville, Castellanos (Wilson 76), Pablo (Kilman 67)
Unused subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Magassa, Kante, Potts
Goals: Bowen (7), Summerville (36)
Booked: Scarles, Adama
Sent off: Todibo
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto (James 81), Chalobah, Badiashile (Fofana 46), Hato (Cucurella 46), Caicedo, Fernandes (c), Gittens (Neto 26), Palmer, Garnacho (Pedro 46), Delap
Unused subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Santos, Guiu
Goals: Pedro (57), Cucurella (70), Fernandes (90+2)
Booked: Caicedo, Fernandes, Pedro
Possesssion: CFC 71%-29% WHUFC
Shots/on target: CFC 14/6-11/6 WHUFC
xG: CFC 2.55-1.12 WHUFC
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 39,430
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