TIMO STRIDES
Werner’s winner gives Blues advantage over Irons for European spot
OH, the irony.
On the one hand, a club who desperately want to be in the Champions League, on the other, a club who once cared dearly for it, but no more.
And, of course, it was the latter who took a big step towards qualifying for what, for now at least, remains Europe’s premier cup competition by winning a proverbial topfour six-pointer.
Chelsea got their victory, one they thoroughly deserved, thanks to a Timo Werner strike late in the first half.
It was the German’s sixth Premier League goal of the season – his second in 23 games – and it put clear daylight between his side and West Ham, who started the day locked on 55 points.
David Moyes’ men will rue their first-half performance, in particular.
And there was double disappointment for the Hammers, with Fabian Balbuena sent off late on after another farcical decision from referee Chris
Kavanagh and VAR Peter Bankes.
All is not lost on either front, however, given that, on paper at least, the boys from east London have an easier run-in than their rivals from across town and only the Premier League to focus on.
And that an appeal will surely see Balbuena’s red card rescinded, just as Tomas Soucek’s was earlier in the season.
The sending-off really was that bad.
“A really rank, rotten decision,” was how Moyes described it. He was understating it.
He added: “I don’t know who stopped the game, I thought it was supposed to be clear and obvious.
“It tells me someone who has never played the game made the decision.”
Credit to Blues boss Thomas Tuchel and his men, though. They did everything right and he will hope Werner’s goal gives him confidence ahead of Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday night.
Tuchel said: “Timo
needs to keep on scoring and catch the moment.
“He is quite often involved in our goals with fouls in the area or assists like against Manchester City, but nothing helps more than a decisive goal.
“I’m very happy because he was very strong from the start.
“It was very nice he could score and he could have had a second one, but, good performance, and I am happy because it was a big win.”
Chelsea had their hosts on the back foot for much of the game, although too often again they were not clinical enough and ought to have been ahead before Ben Chilwell’s low cross found
Werner and he side-footed home from close range.
Werner said: “It’s the best feeling after winning a game to score a goal.
“It was really important for me and the whole team. It’s great to be back on the scoresheet.” Shortly after
‘‘
the restart, Mason Mount’s effort needed pawing away by Lukasz Fabianski and an even more straightforward opportunity than his goal fell to Werner four yards out.
Somehow, he dragged his effort wide, though, much to the disbelief of Tuchel, whose face was a picture.
West Ham finally registered a shot on target on 55 minutes, but
Pablo Fornals’ low drive was straight at Blues keeper Edouard Mendy.
It at least gave them a taste for attacking and when Ryan Fredericks’ shot was blocked by Mount, Jesse Lingard’s effort was not too far wide.
Mount wrapped his right boot around another long-range effort that needed another good save from Fabianski, and then he saved well again from Werner, while Tammy Abraham could not keep down a header late on.
West Ham were better in the second period, but their hopes of a late comeback were killed off when Balbuena saw red.
Yes, he caught Chilwell on the calf as he beat him to the ball, but there was no intent and it was an awful decision to dismiss him.
Moyes added: “You would expect us to miss Declan Rice and Michail Antonio. It was a tough game with what we had out, but our players showed great character and resilience.
“We lost 1-0 to a team who have been in really good form.”
A really rank, rotten decision. It tells me someone who has never played the game made the decision