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Chelsea deliver Hammer blow
01/03/2008 20:38 - (SA)
London - Frank Lampard endured mixed emotions on his return to Upton Park as he scored and and was sent off in Chelsea's 4-0 victory over West Ham.
The England midfielder, who left West Ham for Stamford Bridge in 2001 for 11 million pounds, slotted home a 17th minute penalty to start a spree that saw Chelsea score three goals in five minutes.
However, he was also shown a straight red card by referee Peter Walton for shoving Luis Boa Morte in the chest in the 36th minute.
Victory left Chelsea within seven points of leaders Arsenal and the win eased some of the pressure on manager Avram Grant, criticised for his tactics during last weekend's League Cup final defeat against Tottenham.
Grant made five changes to his side. Paulo Ferreira and Ashley Cole retuned to the full-back positions while Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou started from kick-off.
Didier Drogba, their goal-scorer during Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Wembley, was dropped to the bench as Nicolas Anelka was preferred as the loan target man.
The French striker almost justified his inclusion in the starting line-up when he tapped in from close range after only 90 seconds, but he saw his effort cancelled out for offside.
West Ham manager, Alan Curbishley, kept his faith in former Chelsea player Carlton Cole to lead his attacking line, meaning top-scorer Dean Ashton started on the bench.
Cole, who made 32 appearances for The Blues scoring eight goals, came close to opening the scoring in the early exchanges.
He caught sight of Petr Cech off his goal-line and tried to lob the goalkeeper from distance only to see his effort sail over the bar.
But just as West Ham were beginning to get a foothold in this match they were quickly undone by goals from two of their former players.
First, Lampard stroked in from the penalty spot after Anton Ferdinand was judged to have fouled Salomon Kalou in the area.
Lampard sent goalkeeper Robert Green the wrong way and dispatched his shot before celebrating in front of the Bobby Moore Stand, much to the anger of the home supporters.
Four minutes later, Joe Cole made it 2-0 with a drilled shot from the edge of the box after Anelka supplied the pass.
The Hammers promptly found themselves three goals down.
This time Lampard turned creator with a wonderful surging run followed by a cross with the outside of his boot to Michael Ballack, who slammed the ball past Green.
The impressive Mark Noble shouldered the responsibility of dragging the Hammers back into the match and his shot from 25-yards needed an expert save from Cech.
Moments later, West Ham were given a lifeline as Lampard was sent-off following an altercation with Boa Morte. Lampard appeared to push the former Fulham midfielder which sparked an 18-man melee.
Curbishley introduced Ashton after half-time, yet it was Carlton Cole who came closest to scoring when he was denied by an excellent over-head kick by John Terry on the goal-line.
But despite their numerical disadvantage, Chelsea added to their lead.
Joe Cole's initial shot was blocked by Green but Ashley Cole was on hand to slot in from a tight angle for his first Chelsea goal.
On Friday, Grant demanded "respect" for his achievements as Chelsea's manager and his record, which now reads 14 wins and two defeat in 21 games. And if Chelsea play like this against Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Israeli can expect his fair share of plaudits.
- AFP
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