Chelsea player ratings after West Ham steal a draw with Eden Hazard earning a 9 but Gary Cahill just 5

Alex Broun 22:09 08/04/2018
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  • Eden Hazard was at his brilliant best but to no avail against West Ham.

    Chelsea will kick themselves after sharing the points with a plucky West Ham in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

    The Blues were cruising to all three points after Cesar Azpilicueta put them ahead with an opportunistic goal on 36 minutes.

    But they were made to rue numerous missed chances after substitute Javier Hernandez equalised on 73 minutes with the Hammers’ first shot on target.

    Here are our player ratings:

    CHELSEA (3-4-2-1)

    Thibaut Courtois – 7: Had nothing to do all day until he picked the ball out of the net after Chicharito’s sharp finish. Can’t be blamed for that goal but the dropped points will hurt just as much.

    Antonio Rudiger – 7: One of the German’s better matches in a blue shirt. Worked seamlessly alongside Gary Cahill and Marcos Alonso and kept the potentially dangerous Marko Arnautovic quiet for most of the game.

    Gary Cahill – 5: The England centre half had little to do in the first 70 minutes but after that was all at sea with Arnautovic, shown up for his lack of pace as the big Austrian got in behind regularly.

    Cesar Azpilicueta – 8: Got in a good position to score the opening goal and put in a shift at the back where he was relatively untroubled, allowing him to surge forward often.

    Marcos Alonso – 7: Perhaps not as big a threat as usual driving down the left touchline but still managed a number of crosses. Unleashed a sizzling shot near the end that Hart tipped over the bar brilliantly.

    N’Golo Kante – 8: Chelsea’s Mr Perpetual Motion was totally dominant in the midfield, with the ball and without. Played Mark Noble off the park as the diminutive Frenchman had free reign.

    Cesc Fabregas – 6: Kept regularly involved without ever making the real telling pass that would have killed the game off. A good link man but needs to get in more dangerous positions.

    Victor Moses – 6: A busy game with one-telling cross to Alvaro Morata who set up Azpilicueta’s opener. Would have liked to be more accurate though with neither of his shots finding the target.

    Eden Hazard – 8: A sublime interchange with Willian saw the Brazilian go close, resulting in the corner leading up to Azpilicueta’s goal. Constantly a problem for the Hammers’ defence and unlucky not to score.

    Willian – 8: Did everything but score. Busy as always, constantly probing the defence and attempting five shots on goal, all but one on target. Will be disappointed he did not get on the scoresheet.

    Alvaro Morata – 8: Developing into a key component of the Blues front line – not so much as an out and out striker but working as a formidable attacking unit, shown in his assist for Azpilicueta’s goal.

    SUBS:

    Olivier Giroud – N/A: Thrown on in the 77th minute for Morata as Conte desperately searched for a winner. One header in the 87th minute that Hart did well to push around the post.

    Pedro – N/A: Introduced at same time as Giroud for the tiring Moses and made one strong run down the left without coming up with the magic touch to get the three points.

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