Chilwell and Havertz plus a dose of VAR secure all three points for Chelsea against dogged West Ham

By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 2 v Chilwell and  West Ham 1

Chelsea survived a scare to beat West Ham United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with goals from substitutes Ben Chillwell and Kai Havertz.

They had to do it the hard way, coming from behind and they had the grateful  intervention of VAR seconds from the end to ensure all three points were secured as a West Ham equaliser was disallowed seconds after the home side had taken the lead.

This was a poor game overall, which was punctuated with the occasional flashes of inspiration.

It was an even start by both sides – neither has set the Premier League alight so far this season, and not making a serious error was the order of the day.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek got a yellow card for a needless late challenge on Jared Bowen on 10 minutes.

Chelsea took control of the game without creating much in the way of a goal-scoring chances.

But on 27 minutes, and after some excellent approach play, a left-footer by Christian Pulisic went towards goal but was tipped away at the last moment by Kehrer for a corner 

This was soon followed by a speculative right-footer by Matteo Kovacic. His twist, turn and shot, from 20 yards went just wide of Fabianski’s right post on 32 minutes.

Marc Curcuella was given a yellow card on 36 minutes for what looked like a legitimate recovery challenge, but somehow Refeee Andrew Madley deemed it more than that.

A wonderful dipping volley by Fornals just inched over Mendy’s crossbar was the visitors’ only effort towards the Chelsea goal.

There were no changes by either side at half time.

Antonio and James clashed in midfield – Antonio did foul the defender but James kicked out at the attacker.

There was a couple of shoves and eventually the ref opted give both a yellow card.

Thomas Tuchel had seen enough of the huff and puff without any result, so on 60 minutes brought on Mason Mount and Armando Broja for Gallagher and Pulisic 

Bowen produced the shot of the game on 62 minutes with a wonderful volley, which Mendy did well to tip around for a corner.

From the resultant kick Mendy flapped at the far post and the ball was fed back inside the six yard box and Antonio tucked home to give West Ham the lead on 62 mo utes.

Chilwell and Havertz were next to be brought on as Tuchel tried to rescue at least a point.

Off came Cucurella and Kovacic.

Within a couple of minutes of entering the pitch, Chilwell found himself on the end of a long ball. He managed to get his head to it, to take the pace of it. But on the byline, he then tapped the ball under the body of Fabianski and from a tight angle the ball dripped over the goalline to level the score with 14 minutes left on the clock.

Chelsea were caught napping with four minutes left when a wonderful byline cross was met at the far post by substitute Cornet, but his first touch, a header saw the ball rebound off the far post.

However a minute later, and Havertz with virtually his first touch of the ball  smacked home from close range with a venomous left-footer.

But seconds later West Ham equalised in controversial fashion. A poor headed backpass put Mendy under pressure. Bowen went into a challenge, appeared to leave his boot in Mendy’s midriff, and the ball fell to Cornet who rammed the the ball home.

VAR then intervened asking the ref to look at the incident.

That can only really means thing and the and the goal was disallowed for a foul on Mendy.

Teams: Mendy, Silva, Kovacic, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Sterling, Gallagher, James, Koulibaly, Curcurella, Fofana

Subs: Kepa, Jorginho, Chalobah, Broja, Mount, Chilwell, Ziyech, Azpilicueta, Havertz 

West Ham, Fabianski, Zouma, Coufal, Fornals, Antonio, De Lima,  Bowen, Kehrer, Soucek, Emerson, Rice

Subs: Areola, Randolph, Lanzini, Downes, Cornet, Ogbonna, Benrahma, `Coventry

Referee: Andrew Madley