Geremi’s Gem Crowns Chelsea Victory

The Blues sealed victory over West Ham United, in stunning fashion in the twenty second minute, following an infringement when Danny Gabbidon pulled down Didier Drogba, and from the resulting free kick, Geremi curled his shot into the top right hand corner, past the despairing dive of Robert Green. Chelsea could have increased their lead on seventy two minutes, as Michael Essien’s long range strike, hit the foot of the right hand post. Drogba also had an effort ruled offside in the eighty third minute, as the goal shy Hammers were made to pay the price for Chelsea’s attacking options.

“I thought at half time we were desperately unlucky to come in at one nil down. Commitment of the players, the awareness of how were trying to hurt Chelsea was very good. Our left side was beginning to dominate at times. Against the Champions today, we’ve give a performance that suggests that the season might not be as long as some people are thinking,” consoled West Ham manager, Alan Pardew.

“When you play against the Champions, you know that you’ve going to have to match their pace and power that they have and this is a very good side and we did that today, I thought it was a boxing encounter, you would say it was pretty close.”

“Sometimes you have to say that you are up against not just world class flair players but against world class defenders, I can think of about four blocks that we had great opportunities and that's why their world class defenders, they put themselves in the way.”

Although the foul which lead to Geremi’s goal, was the one sour note for Pardew.

“I think Gabby just used his body, and I’m not sure but it looked like they leaned on our wall as well for it to create that opportunity, and if that’s case then there is a small argument for an infringement there but it was a great finish and he couldn’t have put it in a better place.”

Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, felt his side deserved their narrow victory, as he commented:

“I think we deserved the points but at the same time, I think West Ham gave us a game. Normally with the production of our football we should score a second goal and kill the emotion of the game but we didn’t.”

“I think it would be very unfair if they scored in the last period of the game and they go home with a point because I think we were the best team, we had enough chances to win the game and I think it was a good game because both teams played with a good attitude.”

Plus a match winning free kick by Geremi, that suited Mourinho’s strategic planning, as he added:

“Planned was these three players on the ball and planned was the movement they have to do. The decision about who takes the free kick is between them, the distance to the ball, the distance to wall, the position of the keeper, the feeling is between them, so it was their decision.”