Chelsea returned to the top four in the Premier League after coming from behind to beat West Ham on former manager Graham Potter’s return to Stamford Bridge.
After fellow top-four contenders Manchester City and Newcastle lost at the weekend, the Blues were made to work hard for the three points by the visitors who led through Jarrod Bowen at the break.
But substitute Pedro Neto equalised for Enzo Maresca’s side in the second half before Cole Palmer’s cross looped over Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, which took a big deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka to gift the win to the home side.
Bowen, who was out of action since fracturing his foot in a defeat by Liverpool on 29 December, pounced on a misplaced backpass from centre-back Levi Colwill before finishing past Filip Jorgensen to pull Potter’s side ahead in the closing stages of the first half.
Maresca brought on Neto and Marc Guiu early in the second half to turn things around, and it was the former who helped his side find a way back.
Marc Cucurella did well to keep Neto’s deep cross in play for Enzo Fernandez to strike at goal, and the Argentine’s shot was blocked by Vladimir Coufal, only for the Portugal winger to restore parity on the rebound.
Chelsea were much improved after finding the equaliser and an unfortunate intervention from Wan-Bissaka secured the victory for the hosts 10 minutes later.
The result helps Chelsea climb to fourth with 43 points – two more than Manchester City and Newcastle – while Potter’s side remain 15th with 27 points.
