Chelsea staged a powerful comeback to edge West Ham United 2-1 in an entertaining Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on Monday, earning only their second win in eight games. The win promoted the Blues to fourth, two points ahead of Manchester City and four points behind the third-placed Nottingham Forest. West Ham is also still 15th after its fifth loss in the campaign.
The visitors struck first against the run of play just before halftime. Levi Colwill’s poor backpass from the flank fell to Jarrod Bowen, making his return after a six game injury absense. The West Ham captain calmly slotted a left-footed finish past Chelsea’s stand-in goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen, who replaced the struggling Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea leveled through Pedro Neto, who turned home the rebound after Enzo Fernandez’s shot from close range was blocked on the line by the West Ham defenders. It came in the 64th minute and saw a momentum swing, with Pedro Neto shooting it home during a heated row from West Ham players, protesting Bowen had been fouled before he was fouled.
The winner arrived in the 74th minute through a mix of persistence and fortune. Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s lively attacker, whipped a hopeful cross from a tight angle on the left, which deflected off West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and looped into the net.
This 2-1 defeat was a poor return to the Bridge for West Ham coach Graham Potter. He was fired in April 2023 after becoming the in charge of the Blues.