Christian Pulisic spares stuttering Chelsea against West Ham

Craig Dawson had enjoyed virtually the perfect afternoon. West Ham’s one fit centre-back had been a man mountain, everything thrown at him repelled. The “Ballon D’Orson” flag his own fans had put together was looking apt.

Then substitute Romelu Lukaku burst through and, out of desperation, Dawson grabbed his shirt. Down he went, and the penalty was given. A yellow turned red after Michael Oliver consulted the video monitor. Dawson trudged off forlorn. It was not what he deserved.

Mercy surely then when Jorginho’s run was stuttered, unconvincing. Some might say, like Chelsea. Lukasz Fabianski made the easiest penalty save of his career. But alas, that was not to be that. The 90 was up when Marcos Alonso burst down the left, crossing for Christian Pulisic to finish. Cruel on West Ham, even more so on Dawson.

It ended a run of three straight home defeats, coming, much like their last victory, in the same manner as their last. Chelsea led the league by one when advent started but spent Sunday morning shooting nervous glances over their shoulder at Arsenal. A one time inevitability, needed a little TLC. It came just about.

But Thomas Tuchel barely left his seat for the first hour, much of it spent scrawling furiously in his notebook. Dawson’s name may well have been added in biro. New centre-backs, he requires.

Andreas Christensen, victim of Stamford Bridge’s difficult pitch midweek, was named to start before withdrawing due to illness. He, alongside Antonio Rüdiger, and perhaps Cesar Azpilicueta, are heading straight outta’ Cobham to La Liga. Malang Sarr is not up to it, while age might even be catching up with Thiago Silva who miscued several clearances.

David Moyes on the other hand, until the late drama, had cut largely a