We’ve had some great games against Chelsea over the years. I can go back to the 1960s – here are some of my favourites. How many do you remember?
The most recent one that I can recall goes back to December 2021. We were 2-1 down at half-time (Lanzini penalty), Bowen equalised early in the second half, and then there was that comical shot / cross where Masuaku deceived Mendy close to the end of the game.
Then going back to the previous summer behind closed doors (remember Covid?) we were drawing 2-2 going into the last minute when Yarmolenko scored a breakaway goal to earn the three points.
In November 2019 we played at Stamford Bridge with David Martin in goal. Cresswell scored and we held on for a famous 1-0 with Martin taking all the emotional headlines.
Do you remember Arnautovic? In December 2017 he scored a very early goal and we held on for a 1-0 win.
We played them in the League Cup in 2016, one of the very early games I remember at the London Stadium. We won 2-1 with goals from Kouyate and Fernandes (remember him?). I thought he was a good prospect and was sad to see him go.
Just a year before that in 2015 a memorable game against the champions from the previous season was won with a late goal from Andy Carroll who had come on as a substitute for Zarate who scored our first. We went to third in the league in a game remembered for six Chelsea bookings and both Matic, and Mourinho being sent off. 2-1 in the end.
Going back to December 2012 we were one down at half time but a superb second half performance with goals from Carlton Cole, and then Diame and Maiga both scoring in the last 5 minutes in front of the Bobby Moore stand gave us an excellent 3-1 win.
Back now to that ill fated season 2002-2003 when we were relegated with some excellent players, going down with 42 points from 38 games. We had rallied well towards the end of the season and our penultimate game was at home to Chelsea. Our caretaker manager sent on Di Canio early in the second half and he scored the goal which gave us a 1-0 win to give us an outside chance of survival. Sadly it was not to be when we drew 2-2 in the final game and went down as a result.
Earlier in that season we had beaten them 3-2 with Di Canio netting twice, one of them very late in the game to clinch the victory.
In October 2001 Carrick and Kanoute scored two early goals to give us a 2-1 win.
Now back to some much earlier games. Towards the end of 1987-88 we had only won one game since January when we faced Chelsea in the penultimate game of the season. We gave them a thrashing 4-1 with the goals from Cottee, Rosenior (2) and Hilton.
In 1986 we beat them twice in high scoring games. It was 5-3 in October (Stewart 2, Cottee 2 and McAvennie) and the season before in March we recorded a splendid victory at Stamford Bridge, with McAvennie, Cottee 2, and Devonshire scoring the goals. I remember Brian Moore’s commentary of that game when watching it on the Big Match on Sunday afternoon.
In our record breaking Division 2 season (1980-81) we completed the double over them – in the home gam we won 4-0 with goals from Brooking 2, Cross and Devonshire.
Back into the 1970s we did the double over them in 1973-74 with a 4-2 away victory where Clyde Best scored two of the goals and a 3-0 win at home with a hat-trick from Billy Bonds who was playing in midfield for us at the time.
Back into the 60s I can remember a Peters / Hurst double in a 2-0 win early one season, and perhaps one of the most remarkable West Ham v Chelsea derbies in the week before Christmas in the year we won the World Cup. We led 2-0, trailed 3-2, led 5-3 before the game finally ended in a 5-5 draw, Sissons 2, Brabrook, Byrne and Peters scoring the goals.
That season was one of my favourites watching West Ham for entertainment despite finishing sixteenth in the league and being eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup to third division Swindon. We did reach the semi-final of the League Cup before going out to West Brom over two legs. Apart from the 5-5 against Chelsea there were some highly entertaining games. We lost 5-4 at Leicester and recorded wins of 4-1 (v Man City), 1-0 (v Spurs), 3-1 (v Arsenal) and then in a famous fortnight in November beat Fulham (6-1), Leeds (7-0), Spurs 4-3, and Newcastle 3-0. There were other big wins (we scored four goals two days in a row against Blackpool too). We also suffered some heavy defeats, 4-0 twice, 6-1 and 6-2!). We scored 73 league goals that season and conceded 69. We also scored 20 goals in the FA Cup / League Cup.
You will have noticed lots of gaps going back over the last 60 years or so. I guess they beat us a few times but I’ve forgotten those. Can I add to memories of West Ham v Chelsea games this weekend? I hope I can. A debut goal from James Ward-Prowse to equal Beckham’s free kick record perhaps?
Chelsea are favourites to win the game. You can name your own odds on a 5-5 draw.
Perhaps an England Women / West Ham winning double on Sunday? That’s about 10/1! What are the chances?
Enjoy the game. COYI!
Under The Hammers 