Defiant Hammers deny Blues

[BlueLion. 21,491]

West Ham frustrated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with a miserly defensive showing that leaves the Blues three points off top spot.

With Manchester City taking full advantage of Arsenal's surprise slip-up at Southampton yesterday evening by thumping Spurs at White Hart Lane, the Blues go into next Monday's crunch clash with Manuel Pellegrini's side knowing that even a win will not be enough to usurp the 2011/12 champions.

This was a performance of great endeavour from both sides, with Chelsea doing absolutely everything but score - indeed, the Blues had a mammoth 39 efforts, nine of which were on target. For West Ham this represents a massive triumph their magnificent defensive performance warranted.

After failing to capitalise on an impressive performance over Stoke City at the weekend where the Blues should really have won quite comfortably, a full 90 minutes against the Hammers without scoring will be of great concern to Chelsea boss José Mourinho, who, without the injured Fernando Torres, is woefully short of striking options.

With it being too late in the transfer window to bridge that particular void, however, further frustration seems likely for the Blues. So often have the Blues looked to their midfield magicians to produce something special, and more often that not they have been able to oblige - not here, though.

This is a game that should not be over-analysed by the statisticians. The fact of the matter is Chelsea utterly battered Sam Allardyce's side, but with their goalkeeper in defiant mood and their defensive utterly impeccable, this was a backs-to-the-wall effort to rival the Blues' own exploits at the Nou Camp back in 2012.

The Blues stay two points behind Arsenal, but with City now opening a gap between themselves and the Blues - one that could be extended to six points should they win on Monday - and the fact that Liverpool are now only four points behind in fourth means that much work must be done between now and May.

Talk of a Premier League title is premature - Chelsea will challenge, but on this evidence will come up that bit short. The old cliché of parking the bus applies here, but the startling truth is that, with this strike force, the Blues could have played for another 90 minutes and still not put the ball in the back of the net.

The best chances of the game had fallen first to Oscar, who saw a majestic shot palmed expertly onto the bar by Adrian, before John Terry had a header saved by the goalkeeper's legs.

The next best opportunities came in a grandstand finish. Demba Ba hit the post in stoppage time before Eden Hazard first lashed a shot into the side netting and then, with a second effort, tested the goalkeeper. Frank Lampard had seen a shot charged down in one of umpteen last-ditch blocks by a West Ham defender, before right at the very end Samuel Eto'o cheekily kicked the ball into the goal when Adrian had placed the ball down for a free-kick.

Sometimes you just have to realise things aren't going to go your way. This was one of "those" games.

Chelsea have five days to regroup before their date with destiny at the Etihad.

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[Fernando 6,374]

Yeah was a tough one.

But the way West Ham defended, well they can go home happy and us raise our head and look forward to next game.

Cause if we win the next game we are back in a good position.

[Excalibur KTBFFH 109]

Just take a sigh of relief and remember that we could have been in a worse position in the league. The trick now is NOT to lose to City. Six points behind may just as well end our title chances. Pellegrini has turned Man City into an absolute monstrous team, but on the brighter side, Aguero is OUT of the game on Monday due to a hamstring injury.

[Fulham Broadway 16,383]

39 shots to their 1. We have to realise there will be games like this even when the team is the finished article.

The important thing is the players gave their all.