1st December, 2007

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

JS John Simkin GL Gary Loughran PA Party Iron BN Boleyn DC David Cross OD Oldun
AB Albie Beck BF Bishops Finger RN Rich Neal MH Mitch SA Sanchoz PO Polar NB Neal Bob

Sky Sports: In a scrappy first half it was West Ham who had the best opportunity when Nolberto Solano snuck in to lob Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, but the Peruvian's effort drifted just over. The home crowd were evidently frustrated by their side's lacklustre showing and after the interval Chelsea came out in an attacking mood and West Ham were grateful for intelligent goalkeeping from Green to deny Didier Drogba. Chelsea, though, then had the lead their second-half performance deserved when Cole, who was debatably offside, fired into the roof of the net and West Ham had no answer. (1st December, 2007)

BBC Sport: Joe Cole's late winner settled a scrappy encounter against former club West Ham and kept Chelsea in touch with the Premier League pace-setters. Cole raced on to Didier Drogba's header after 76 minutes and rounded West Ham keeper Robert Green to score as the visitors appealed in vain for offside. It was the decisive moment in an ill-tempered game littered with stoppages at Stamford Bridge. Nolberto Solano came close for West Ham, but Chelsea claimed the points. (1st December, 2007)

Hammers Mad: Danny Gabbidon was called into action to dispossess Drogba on 29 minutes after sublime set-up play by Joe Cole on the left as he fed Wayne Bridge. The left-back sent in the perfect cross, which was chested down by Drogba, but Gabbidon was alert enough to clear the danger. Nolberto Solano almost scored a minute later when he broke clear and clipped a deft ball over Carlo Cudicini but the ball was too high and went narrowly over the crossbar. Four bookings, all for fouls, two for each side, reflected the tense and aggressive nature of the game. (1st December, 2007)

Hammers Diary: I am sure I am not alone when I say how proud I was of our performance against Chelsea. We deserved at least a point, and defensively we were awesome. It givesd me real hope for the future if we continue to play with that level of total commitment and skill. We were never going to have a huge number of goalscoring opportunities, and so it proved, but again, Carlton Cole worked his dogs bits off and Luis Boa Morte had his best game in a Hammers shirt. Scott Parker was terrific in midfield, with Upson the star of a superb back four. I really cannot praise them too highly. Let’s hope this kind of form is carried forward into the two Everton matches and beyond. (Iain Dale, 2nd December, 2007)

KUMB: Over the 90 minutes we were worth a point. No question. The defence looked strong with the central defensive pairing of Upson and Gabbidon in particular looking good. This time last year we were lucky to see a central defensive pairing last ten minutes and it is no coincidence that the defence’s improvement has come with the arrival of a settled back four. A little bit more flair and pace further up the pitch with the return of Bellamy will, I’m sure, make a lot of difference to the side. (Gordon Thrower, 2nd December, 2007)

Daily Telegraph: A fine line separated Cole from an offside decision as he capitalised on headers won by Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou to round goalkeeper Robert Green and score expertly with a quarter of an hour remaining. It was one of only a handful of openings during the game. "The difference was maybe that Joe had something that could change a game," West Ham manager Alan Curbishley was first to concede. Curbishley's team matched Chelsea in every other respect. Following the stirring examples set by Danny Gabbidon and Carlton Cole at either end of the field, West Ham ruffled some famous feathers and tried the patience of their hosts to near breaking point. On an afternoon of tasty tackles, it was Chelsea who committed the most reckless. John Obi Mikel, in particular, was very fortunate to survive the first half without adding to Grant's red card video collection. His flying two-footed lunge through the back of Scott Parker was in response to some early intimidation but was inexcusable nonetheless. Both managers had made pronouncements on refereeing standards prior to the match so the man in charge, Howard Webb, was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. (Clive Tyldesley, 3rd December, 2007)

Daily Mirror: Hammers centre-backs Matthew Upson and Danny Gabbidon were outstanding, Gabbidon in particular for the way he kept Didier Drogba under lock and key. But when the goal finally came it was route one - and was also half a yard offside. Carlo Cudicini's clearance was nodded on by Drogba, then by Kalou, and Cole raced away before firing into the roof of the net. (John Cross, 3rd December, 2007)

The Times: Having found Mourinho’s hair-dryer, Grant proceeded to parrot his predecessor in other respects, bemoaning West Ham United’s physical approach, even though Kalou and John Obi Mikel could have been sent off for two horrendous tackles. “They played very, very physically,” Grant said. “I think they deserved more yellow cards than they got, but the referee basically did his job in what was a very, very difficult game.” For once Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, came up with a suitable response, entering the debate over Grant’s effectiveness by comparing him with Gary Megson. “He’s been put in a position where he’s got a big, big club on his hands, so perhaps he feels he has to make some big, big statements,” Curbishley said. “I don’t think he’s changed too much, he’s just said get on with it. I think he’s come in and done what Gary Megson’s done.” For a self-appointed style icon – in the world of football, if not fashion – such a damning verdict must hurt. (Matt Hughes, 3rd December, 2007)

The Guardian: This was a fine result but far from a swashbuckling display. Admittedly West ham did not allow Chelsea to play, snapping into challenges and almost scoring through Nolberto Solano's first-half chip. Yet just as they invariably did under Mourinho, Chelsea eventually squeezed a moment of quality from the huff and puff, though even that conjured flashbacks to the old regime. Grant had suggested last week that this team had been too reliant on the counter-attack under his predecessor. The winner on Saturday came from Cudicini's punt, flicks from Didier Drogba and Kalou and a sprint, swerve and accurate finish from Cole. "The big thing since Avram took over is that John Terry's come back, Frank Lampard's come back, Drogba's on fire," said Curbishley. "I don't know if they were all there when Jose had them. Grant has come in and done what Gary Megson's done (at Bolton). He's just said: 'Get on with it. You're all good players.' I don't think he's changed too much. Perhaps the pressure's been lifted a little bit but they're going to be there or thereabouts. They know that. We know that." (Dominic Fifield, 3rd August, 2007).

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