Lampard helps Chelsea see off West Ham
West Ham 0 Chelsea 3
Frank Lampard ended a 10-game Premier League goal drought with a brace against his former club as Chelsea enjoyed a comfortable victory at Upton Park.
The Blues vice-captain drilled home a 21st-minute penalty after Hammers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had fouled Oscar sprawling, who doubled the lead 13 minutes later with a crisp finish.
Chelsea dominated without ever needing to find top gear and Lampard, Samuel Eto’o and Gary Cahill all went close to inflicting more damage on West Ham, whose only real chance came when Modibo Maiga scuffed wide.
Lampard completed the win late on with a placed shot from the edge of the box to lift Jose Mourinho’s side above Southampton and into third.
Although Chelsea went on to win at a canter, it took a defensive howler to break a dour stalemate after a nondescript first 20 minutes.
West Ham full-back Guy Demel’s woefully short back-pass was latched onto by the lurking Oscar, who was brought down by Jaaskelainen.
Lampard lashed the penalty down the middle and from then on, Chelsea were in complete control.
The England midfielder had two other chances to double the lead, scuffing a shot straight at Jaaskelainen and then heading wide.
Chelsea’s dominance in midfield paid dividends when Oscar exchanged passes with Eden Hazard and was afforded the space to run at the West Ham defence before clipping a shot into the bottom corner.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce made two substitutions five minutes before the break, withdrawing Jack Collison and ex-Blues favourite Joe Cole to a chorus of boos, and bringing on Maiga and Mohamed Diame.
Chelsea remained on top, however, and Jaaskelainen produced a fine save to keep out Eto’o’s effort.
The second half was all Chelsea.
Cahill saw a header cleared off the line by Mark Noble, Oscar’s half-volley flew wide and Eto’o watched a curling effort from 20 yards go past the angle of post and bar.
A toothless West Ham had just one serious chance of note, midway through the second half.
Demel atoned for his earlier error by wriggling away from three Chelsea players by the corner flag and laid the ball on a plate for Maiga, but he mistimed a shot from close range.
Lampard, booed throughout by the home fans, had the last laugh as he put the gloss on the scoreline nine minutes from time – his seventh goal against the east London side.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Ramires; Oscar (Schurrle 82), Lampard, Hazard (Essien 84); Eto’o (Ba 78).
Subs: Cole, Mata, Willian, Schwarzer.
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
