07/03/2001  West Ham 0 Chelsea 2
 
Chelsea finally claimed their first away win in the Premiership this season 
against a West Ham team who clearly had one eye on Sunday's FA Cup 
quarter-final.

But there was a bigger worry for the Hammers as key defender Stuart Pearce 
hobbled out of the action after just eight minutes with an ankle injury and he 
now faces a race to be fit to face Tottenham in the cup clash.

Considering this match was a local derby between two fierce rivals it was a 
remarkably tame affair and the Blues won it at a canter with quality goals from 
Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

It was a close contest until Chelsea snatched the lead after 31 minutes.

There was good work from Graeme Le Saux down the left before he squared the 
ball to Gudjohnsen. The Icelandic striker showed quick feet and a cool head as 
he tucked the ball between two defenders and inside the bottom right corner.

Hasselbaink made it two for the visitors with an exquisite finish after 38 
minutes. There appeared to be little danger as he received the ball just outside 
the box but he sidestepped his marker and sent a brilliant curling shot past the 
helpless Shaka Hislop into the top right corner.

That was game over, although West Ham were already suffering defensively after 
losing veteran warrior Pearce.

The 38-year-old full-back, who picked up the Carling player of the month award 
at the weekend, hurt his ankle in a challenge with Hasselbaink and was 
immediately replaced by Sebastien Schemmel.

A quiet opening produced just one real chance, when Slavisa Jokanovic flashed
a 25-yard volley just wide of Hislop's left post after six minutes.

Chelsea suffered an injury blow of their own after 23 minutes when Mario 
Stanic, making only his second start of the season, also limped off and was 
replaced by Gus Poyet.

The game came to life after 25 minutes when Joe Cole made an amazing miss from 
just five yards.

Paolo di Canio swung a left-wing free-kick to the far post and Ian Pearce saw 
his downward header blocked on the line. The loose ball fell invitingly for Cole 
but he somehow scooped it against the bar.

The danger was not over for Chelsea as the ball was crossed back into the box 
and Rigobert Song met it with a diving header at the near post which was only 
just wide.

But the two quick goals had West Ham rocking and they were in danger of a 
total collapse.

They might have been three down after 41 minutes. Jesper Gronkjaer slipped 
past Schemmel but blasted his shot just over from a tight angle.

West Ham reshuffled at half-time by reverting to a back four. They took off 
substitute Schemmel and brought Kaba Diawara into midfield.

But the defensive jitters were still there and Gudjohnsen should have scored 
his second goal of the night three minutes into the second half.

A long clearance from Carlo Cudicini was flicked on by Hasselbaink and 
Gudjohnsen outpaced Christian Dailly but he poked his shot just wide of the far 
post with only Hislop to beat.

Then after 58 minutes Hasselbaink just got the better of Ian Pearce as he ran 
on to a long ball, but he was off-balance as he hit his shot and it flew over 
the bar.

Cole was busy for the Hammers and was almost rewarded with a goal after 71 
minutes. Di Canio crossed from the right and Cole rose well but saw his header 
fly narrowly wide of the far post.

The youngster was teed up again by di Canio with five minutes remaining but 
this time he screwed a shot way off target.

In the end West Ham were relieved to get off with just a two-goal defeat as 
Chelsea celebrated their first Premiership win on their travels for almost a 
year.