Chelsea secured a crucial 2-1 comeback victory against former manager Graham Potter’s West Ham United on Monday, with second-half goals from substitute Pedro Neto and an Aaron Wan-Bissaka own goal lifting the Blues into fourth place in the Premier League.
West Ham, now 15th in the league with 27 points, have a miserable record at Stamford Bridge, having won just once in their last 19 league visits, drawing four and losing 14.
Bowen Fires West Ham Ahead Amid Missed Chelsea Chances
West Ham took a surprising lead just before halftime when Jarrod Bowen, making his return after a month out with a foot fracture, capitalized on a poor back pass from Levi Colwill.
The winger showed his composure, slotting a left-footed strike past Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen in the 42nd minute.
Chelsea had dominated possession but struggled to convert chances, with Enzo Fernández, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Jadon Sancho all missing opportunities.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola preserved the visitors’ lead at the break, notably tipping a Palmer free kick over the bar just before halftime.
Second-Half Revival as Neto and Own Goal Secure Chelsea Win
Under-fire Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca responded by introducing Marc Guiu for Nicolas Jackson early in the second half, a move that injected more energy into the attack.
The breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute when Pedro Neto, who had come off the bench, pounced on a ricocheted shot from Fernández to level the score. A lengthy VAR review for offside ensued, but the goal stood.
Chelsea completed their turnaround 10 minutes later when Palmer’s dangerous cross into the box was deflected into the net by West Ham full-back Wan-Bissaka, leaving Potter in frustration on his return to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues pressed for a third, with Palmer and Fernández coming close, but West Ham fought until the end.
Jorgensen, who was preferred over the error-prone Robert Sánchez, made key saves late on to deny Mohammed Kudus and Konstantinos Mavropanos, securing all three points for Chelsea.
Neto: “This Win Was Really Important”
“This victory coming from behind was really important for us,” Neto told Sky Sports after the match.
“We have to be consistent, this is the most important thing.”
The win moves Chelsea two points above Manchester City and Newcastle United, who are tied in fifth and sixth place, while also closing the gap to third-placed Nottingham Forest to four points.
Meanwhile, Potter, who was sacked by Chelsea in April 2023 after just seven months in charge, has had a mixed start at West Ham, with one win, one draw, and two defeats in the league so far.
However, Bowen remains optimistic about the Hammers’ future under the former Brighton boss.
“Performances have been a lot better since the new manager has come in,” Bowen said.
“It’s an exciting time to be coming back into the squad. Good times ahead for us hopefully.”
