Chelsea (0) 2 v 1 (0) West Ham United
76 Chilwell, assist Thiago Silva 62 Antonio, assist Rice
88 Havertz, assist Chilwell
Yellows: Loftus-Cheek, Cucurella, James, Havertz Antonio, Kehrer Ref. A Madeley
Played Saturday 3 September 2022 at Stamford Bridge, attendance 39,923.
Chelsea continued their revival and now lie 6th in the Premier League (PL) after a win, made controversial by VAR, against West Ham United. The Hammers opened the scoring through Michail Antonio after Declan Rice latched onto a poor clearance by Edouard Mendy. It was the two Blues substitutes who gave them the win, with Ben Chilwell squeezing in a close range shot from an impossible angle and then crossing for Kia Havertz to score. Then the controversy began. West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen took the ball over ‘keeper Mendy, who did not have it under control, to set up debutant Maxwel Cornet to equalize. Mendy lay on the floor holding his shoulder, and the VAR Official Jarred Gillett advised Referee Andy Madeley to review. A foul was given and no goal. Management and media have been incensed.
Tottenham Hotspur (1) 2 v 1 (0) Fulham
40 Hojbjerg, assist Richarlison 83 Mitrovic, assist Tete
75 Kane Referee: Simon Atwell
Yellows: Romero, Bentancur, Richarlison Tete, Mitrovic, De Cordova-Reid, Palhinha
Played Saturday 3 September 2022 at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, attendance 61,641.
Tottenham Hotspur remain unbeaten in the PL, and 3rd in the Table, following their 2-1 win over Fulham. The Lilywhites had 23 goal attempts, 10 on target, but were kept down to a goal in each half by resolute defending and Cottagers’ ex-Arsenal ‘keeper Bernd Leno. For Harry Kane it is now 43 Premier London Derbies (PLDs) goals, putting him level top-scorer with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. A late goal by Fulham’s Aleksandr Mitrovic made for a nervy, but not “Spursy”, last 10 minutes in which both ‘keepers were tested. Spurs’ celebrations continued with a 2-0 win in the UEFA Champions League with £60 million Richarlison heading both goals in the last 15 minutes against 10-man Marseille.
Fulham will play their third PLDS match in a row on Saturday 10 September versus Chelsea. The Blues lost 0-1 away to Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League on 6 September and dismissed their Head Coach Thomas Tuchel the next day with the suggestion of lost leadership of the expensively assembled summer signings. Will 4th in the PL Brighton and Hove Albion’s Graham Potter be the man to get value for money out of the £250 million?
Until next time, enjoy your football and “Keep Safe”, Andrew at PLDs.