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Match ReportSaturday 21st April 2001
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Upton Park
Attendance:26,041
Referee: Graham Poll CHELSEA4Hasselbaink pen 31, Zola 59, Stanic 78, 90 WEST HAM 2Di Canio 47, Kanoute 85DE GOEYPANUCCIBABAYARODESAILLYPOYETHASSELBAINKWISESTANICMELCHIOTDE MATTEOZOLASubs:CUDICINILE SAUX 70FLO 70MORRIS 82THOMEHISLOPPEARCESTIMACSUKERDI CANIOLOMASKANOUTEWINTERBURNLAMPARDCARRICKMARGASSubs:BYWATERCHARLESPOTTSKELLERCOLE HARRY REDKNAPP left Stamford Bridge fuming after his side slipped to defeat in this opening clash of the season.
Referee Graham Barber was the cause of Redknapp's ire after he awarded a penalty against Shaka Hislop after he brought down Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on 29 minutes on the edge of the area - just when the Hammers were shading the play.
The Hammers keeper did just make contact with Chelsea's £15 million man, but it was debatable as to whether or not it was inside the area.
"The referee said to Igor Stimac that he had only one look at it after Igor pointed out where the divot was. If that was the case, and he wasn't sure then he shouldn't have given it," said the Hammers boss.
Hasselbaink, who had a fairly quiet return to Premiership football, converted the penalty to give the Blues the lead which they kept until the interval.
Redkanpp gave debuts to Nigel Winterburn and Davor Suker, but was without Rio Ferdinand who is still recovering from an ankle injury, and the Croatian, who had an excellent debut for the Hammers, played a key role in their equaliser three minutes into the second period.
Picking the ball up on the left hand side, Suker cut inside Mario Melchiot and played a sublime ball to Freddie Kanoute, who squared the ball to Paolo Di Canio, who rolled the ball past Ed de Goey.
Kanoute almost made it 2-1 when he got the better of Marcel Desailly, but his effort was tipped past the post by Chelsea's Dutch keeper.
Just when it looked like the Hammers were stepping up the tempo, Chelsea stole the advantage with a goal of the highest quality from Gianfranco Zola.
Standing ten yards outside the West Ham box, the little Italian flighted the ball to the left of Shaka Hislop and into the top hand corner.
The goal knocked the wind out of the Hammers sails somewhat, and on 77 minutes, seconds after Suker headed just wide, another big money Chelsea's signing Mario Stanic made it 3-1 with an 35-yard volley which Hislop had no chance of stopping.
"I thought when it was 1-1 we looked the better side and could have gone and won the game, but we missed a couple of chances and were made to pay," said Redknapp
afterwards. Having scored their third goal, Chelsea sat back somewhat and West Ham, showing they do have a stomach for a battle, took advantage and grabbed a second goal when Kanoute headed home Di Canio's corner with six minutes remaining.
However, the second equaliser proved to be elusive and Chelsea made sure of the win in the final minute when Stanic made it a debut to remember with a close range header from Roberto Di Matteo's free-kick.
Overall there were some positive points for Redkanpp to take from the game, but ultimately they returned to East London knowing they could have salvaged something from a quality, but not invincible Chelsea.