Chelsea close in at the top four with win over West Ham
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham scored a late opportunist double to secure a 3-0 home win for Chelsea over West Ham United in the Premier League on Monday after Brazilian defender Thiago Silva had fired them in front with an early header.
The result lifted Chelsea to fifth on 25 points from 14 games, a spot behind fourth-placed Everton, while West Ham stayed 10th on 21 points after failing woefully to rack up a third successive away win.
It was a welcome victory for Chelsea after two successive defeats and Abraham acknowledged there is a rallying cry in the dressing room before the kick off.
"The boys said we needed a performance and that's what we did today," the 23-year-old told Sky Sports.
"As a striker, scoring goals gives you confidence, my team mates created a lot of chances and we defended well as a team.
"It's something you do in the park, enter the right areas and be ready when the ball lands. It's still early doors to be looking at the table, we must just keep picking right up three points."
West Ham's Declan Rice had a goal disallowed for offside before 36-year-old centre back Thiago Silva planted a thumping header past visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in the 10th minute as he met a Mason Mount corner.
The Hammers twice came close as Aaron Cresswell shot over the face of goal and Chelsea centre back Kurt Zouma cleared a dangerous raid before Fabianski denied Timo Werner at the other end in the closing stages of the first half.
But Abraham settled Chelsea's nerves when he managed to get 2-0 in the 78th minute after Werner's scuffed shot from the edge of the penalty area fell kindly for the England forward, who diverted it in to the net with the slightest of touches.
With West Ham reeling, Abraham added the 3rd two minutes later when he side-footed in a rebound from a good angle after Christian Pulisic's close-range header was parried by Fabianski.
Misfiring Germany international Werner missed an opportunity to make it 4-0 in the dying minutes when he rattled the crossbar from close range after an excellent run and assist by N'Golo Kante
