Things went from bad to worse for Chelsea at Upton Park on Saturday; first, the Hammers’ Argentine forward Mauro Zárate put the home team in front with a well-timed half-volley in the 17th minute, as Ramires and Diego Costa failed to clear a corner.
Jose Mourinho’s team was then reduced to 10 men before the end of the first – half, as their anchorman Nemanja Matic was sent off, after receiving two yellow cards within nine minutes; the Serbian midfielder’s dismissal proved to be the real turning point in the match.
Just seconds before Matic’s first yellow, the visitors thought they had equalised, when Kurt Zouma’s header appeared to be on the right side of the goal; but the ball wasadjudged by the goal - line decision system to be millimetres from crossing the line.
Then, just moments before Matic was sent off, there was another blow for Chelsea, as a Fabregas’ goal was ruled out for offside.
The Blues troubled manager was furious after the dramatic first- half; he had a heated discussion with referee Jon Moss, as he went to him in his room at the interval to complain about Matic’s second yellow card. The legendary Portuguese coach was subsequently punished and sent off to watch the second - half from the stands. Mourinho was joined there by the assistant first-team coach Silvino Louro, who was also red-carded.
Chelsea, however, did equalise through Gary Cahill's finish from a corner, 11 minutes into the second-half, but West Ham reorganised their tactical approach - Andy Carroll was introduced after 70 minutes and the home side began supplying him with long-balls.
The former Liverpool striker, who had a serious knee injury eight months ago and was away from the game, scored nine minutes later, to propel his team to third in the Premier League table.
Chelsea, whose players have been struggling with a bad form this season, are in the bottom half of the table, in 15th. No doubt that the pressure on their boss Mourinho is increasing- is his departure from the club imminent? Who could replace “the special one”?
