Chelsea 1 West Ham 0:Geremi found the top corner with a delicious free-kick as Premiership champions Chelsea defeated London rivals West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho's men knew even a heavy win would probably not take them to the top of the league this weekend, but they maintained the pressure on leaders Manchester United with their victory.

The winner came midway through the opening half as Geremi curled home from 25 yards following a foul on Didier Drogba by Danny Gabbidon, and Mourinho's men closed out another comfortable and efficient win.

Carlos Tevez had been handed a rare start - West Ham have still not scored with him on the pitch since his arrival before the August transfer window closed - but he struggled against an in-form Ashley Cole.

The tone was set in the opening minute when he fouled the England full-back, and Cole was on top from then on. Tevez, who can play as a centre forward, was on the right flank and Yossi Benayoun, who skippered Israel in midweek, was not in the matchday squad.

The visitors did have their share of the possession in the opening stages, Benayoun's replacement Lee Bowyer wasting a cross from a good position.

But Chelsea remained a threat despite failing to find their top gear. John Terry was off target twice early on from corners on each flank, although the first effort would have been ruled out for a push.

Blues boss Mourinho, who had embraced his counterpart Alan Pardew before kick-off, had outlined in his programme notes that the home fans needed to get behind former Hammer Frank Lampard.

The England midfielder, jeered throughout by away supporters, was in the thick of the action as Chelsea seized control of the game.

He earned a free-kick in the 16th minute when he was tripped by Bowyer, who then deflected Lampard's set-piece wide.

Lampard forced goalkeeper Robert Green to save with a volley then was booked for a sending Jonathan Spector flying.

The hosts were ahead in the 22nd minute after in-form striker Drogba was hauled down by Gabbidon, earning the Hammers centre-back a booking.

Geremi's 25-yard free-kick curled around the wall and into Green's top corner, with the full-back dashing over to the dug-out where he shook Mourinho's hand.

Encouraged by the opener, Andriy Shevchenko wasted a good opportunity when he made ground down the right, as did Robben soon after.

Robben also fired wide towards the end of the first half but, despite Chelsea being on top, the Hammers were still a threat.

Cole had to throw himself at a Nigel Reo-Coker effort to block when the midfielder was on the end of a deep cross, while Matthew Etherington volleyed just wide.

Referee Mike Dean had to address a simmering feud between Reo-Coker and Drogba to keep the derby atmosphere on the boil.

Mourinho took off Ricardo Carvalho, who appeared to pick up a knock in the opening half, for Khalid Boulahrouz at the break.

Lampard lashed over the crossbar six minutes after the restart when Shevchenko had threaded the ball through Gabbidon's legs to find his team-mate on the edge of the area.

As the champions started to assert pressure, Paul Konchesky was forced to hack away in his own six-yard box as Drogba looked to finish from close range, with the home fans calling for a penalty for handball.

Just before the hour mark it was Spector who was forced to block, this time Michael Essien connecting with a fierce volley.

Getting close to Chelsea's goal was proving difficult for the visitors, Bobby Zamora firing over from long distance with a wild volley, their best offering after the break.

Reo-Coker was booked for a foul as Chelsea broke, while Joe Cole was brought on with 22 minutes remaining for Shevchenko.

Hayden Mullins was booked for fouling Essien with 20 minutes remaining as the needle expected in a London derby was maintained. Tevez also received a yellow card for a foul on the same player.

Essien hit the post with a powerful drive as the hosts looked likely to add a second, and Drogba had an effort chalked off for offside.

Mikel John Obi, back in the matchday squad, was given a run-out but struggled to make an impact.