Those optimists expecting a demonstration of the beautiful game from two teams renowned for their passing were instead treated to a fractious London derby at Stamford Bridge yesterday, which was mean in body and spirit. No hearts were lifted, only Chelsea's position in the Premiership where they now sit fourth after this hard-earned and badtempered victory.
For the most part this was a game played so tight that embryonic moves were strangled in the last third of the pitch by the lack of space given to the man on the ball or his team-mates off it.
In that sense, this match offered a first-hand example of how both these sides have added fight to the finesse. There was a time when Chelsea would have buckled under the weight of so many hard tackles and close-quarter tugs and pulls.
There was a time when West Ham would not have perpetrated them. For many years the main complaint against the Academy's famously purist approach was that they lacked the mean streak necessary to flourish in the cut and thrust of the modern game.
Yesterday they laid that ghost once and for all. Backed by a baying pack of venomous supporters they snapped and snarled with an unfamiliar zest, and not all was directed at the opposition.
In a bizarre incident on 42 minutes John Moncur appeared to aim a volley of unconstructive criticism at his team-mate Eyal Berkovic and the little Israeli responded by marching up to Moncur and hitting him.
The 90 minutes ended with Dennis Wise disappearing down the tunnel under a shower of spit from West Ham fans.
It could be said that the goals which put Chelsea 2-0 ahead stemmed from defensive errors. but though the first half belonged to West Ham where Berkovic, Moncur and Frank Lampard flourished in the space allowed them in midfield, the second went to Chelsea who re-organised to fill the gaps and assert a grip on the game which Harry Redknapp's side struggled to break.
"In the first half key players did not do what they were told," said Ruud Gullit. "The midfield was a mess. I had to do something drastic."
He removed an angry Dan Petrescu and changed to a flat back four in order to draft more bodies into midfield and get a grip of the game. It worked well.
West Ham have not won away since the the first game of the season and as a result have slipped slightly down the table because, by a quirk of fate and the fixture computer, they have played nearly twice as many games away than at home.
Only when matters even themselves out can a fairer picture of West Ham's improvement be made. But Ruud Gullit was certainly impressed: "They are better organised than last year and have better players," said the Chelsea manager afterwards.
And Redknapp too remains confident: "We'll finish in the top 10, no doubts about it."
Chelsea are aiming higher still, though they struggled in the first half yesterday. John Hartson and Berkovic both shot just wide and Ed de Goey saved cleverly from Steve Lomas.
Chelsea had their moments, Craig Forrest saving well from Gianfranco Zola, Ian Pearce's timely interception denying Dennis Wise and Rio Ferdinand heading Zola's free-kick off the line.
But the young England defender was at fault for Chelsea's first goal 12 minutes into the second half. First he allowed Zola to get behind him, then after the little Italian received Roberto Di Matteo's inspired pass, Ferdinand deflected Zola's shot into his own net.
Chelsea were soon buzzing. Zola - "in a different class" said Redknapp - shot just over, Di Matteo hit the post and on 38 minutes, as the pressure grew, Pearce brought down Mark Hughes 20 yards out.
Up stepped Zola to curl the ball expertly into the top left corner. Seconds earlier John Hartson had been there on the line. Had he not been moved forward at the last minute, he would surely have blocked the shot.
But West Ham responded immediately as Andy Myers brought down the debutant Abou Sammassi, on as a substitute, in the area and Hartson stepped up to convert the penalty. It was the Premiership's top scorer's 13th goal of the season.
In a frantic finale Forrest saved well from Di Matteo and at the other end Berkovic blasted a handily placed free-kick over the bar.
Chelsea: De Goey, Petrescu (Nicholls 35), Babayaro, Leboeuf (Gullit 90), Hughes, Wise, Di Matteo, Myers, Sinclair, Newton, Zola. Subs Not Used: Vialli, Hitchcock, Flo. Booked: Hughes, Leboeuf. Goals: Ferdinand 57 og, Zola 83.
West Ham United: Forrest, Rowland, Unsworth (Potts 45), Pearce, Ferdinand, Lomas, Lampard, Berkovic, Hartson, Moncur (Abou 67), Impey. Subs Not Used: Sealey, Dowie, Bishop. Booked: Rowland, Pearce, Abou. Goals: Hartson 85 pen.
Referee: G Barber (Pyrford).
