Chelsea demonstrates their mental fortitude
Sports
By
Brian Bosire
| Mar 07, 2017
Chelsea swept aside London rivals West Ham United with a 2-1 away win that restored their 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Monday.
Eden Hazard gave them the lead following a swift 25th-minute counter-attack before Diego Costa clumped
the ball home shortly after the break to put the Blues in control at the London Stadium.
West Ham's Manuel Lanzini seized a consolation in added time, but the result was never in doubt.
Mid-table West Ham, who knocked Chelsea out of the League Cup this season when crowd trouble detracted the night, offered little threat for most of the game as the west London side continued their surge towards the title.
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Antonio Conte's team, who have won 21 of their 27 league matches this season, have 66 points, 10 ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester City can reduce the gap to eight if they beat Stoke City on Wednesday.
Chelsea were content to sit deep and draw West Ham's sting for the opening 20 minutes in which the home side enjoyed plenty of the ball without troubling goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
When the opportunity presented itself, Chelsea were primed and launched a lethal counter-attack to take the lead.
Midfielder N'Golo Kante intercepted a stray pass from Robert Snodgrass deep inside his own half and immediately released Hazard who exchanged passes with Pedro before rounding keeper Darren Randolph to slot home his 11th league goal of the season.