West Ham 0-3 Chelsea: Jackson and Palmer on target as impressive Blues thrash woeful Hammers

Nicolas Jackson propelled Chelsea to a 3-0 victory over West Ham, demonstrating his manager's confidence in him by scoring two crucial goals at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Jackson netted both of his goals in the first half, while Cole Palmer contributed to Chelsea's third victory in five Premier League matches under the guidance of new manager Enzo Maresca.

This timely brace from Jackson came after he was designated as Chelsea's primary striker by Maresca on Friday, despite Christopher Nkunku's impactful performance as a substitute in the previous week's match against Bournemouth.

Although Jackson recently signed a contract extension in September that secures his position at Stamford Bridge until 2033, there were suggestions for Nkunku to be included in the starting lineup following his goal-scoring contribution in the 1-0 win against Bournemouth.

In his debut season with the Blues, Jackson scored 17 goals but also faced criticism for missing several significant opportunities.

The 23-year-old player has demonstrated impressive performance at the beginning of this season, having already scored four goals in six matches across all competitions.

Chelsea has achieved victory in all three of their away league matches this season, with only one defeat, which occurred against the reigning champions, Manchester City, in their five top-flight encounters.

Despite reports of a power struggle between Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali behind the scenes, former Leicester City manager Maresca, who succeeded Mauricio Pochettino during the off-season, has made a notable impact.

Following disappointing finishes of sixth and twelfth in the previous two seasons, there are promising indications that the Italian manager could be the one to transform Chelsea's costly yet underperforming squad into contenders for a top-four position.

West Ham's poor start to the season has placed new manager Julen Lopetegui under significant pressure, with the former Spain and Real Madrid coach facing jeers from frustrated fans who left the stadium well before the match concluded.

West Ham has secured only one victory in their five Premier League matches this season, suffering three consecutive home defeats to commence a league campaign for the first time.

Chelsea made an explosive start just four minutes into the match when West Ham failed to defend a free-kick, allowing Jackson to receive a pass from Jadon Sancho and advance down the right side.

Jackson then cut into the penalty area and easily surpassed Alphonse Areola's feeble attempt to save.

This marked Chelsea's earliest goal in a Premier League London derby since Daniel Sturridge scored against QPR in 2012.
Jackson proved to be a formidable challenge for West Ham, setting up Cole Palmer for a low shot that narrowly missed the target.

Chelsea maintained relentless pressure, creating a palpable sense of inevitability surrounding their second goal, which arrived in the 18th minute.

During a fluid attacking sequence, Moises Caicedo delivered a skillful pass that sliced through the West Ham defense, enabling Jackson to finish calmly past Areola.

Jarrod Bowen epitomized West Ham's sluggish beginning with a disappointing shot that soared over the bar from a favorable position.

Crysencio Summerville, making his first league start for West Ham following his transfer from Leeds, appealed for a penalty after being pulled down by Wesley Fofana, but VAR dismissed his claims.

Lopetegui expressed his frustration with West Ham's sluggishness by substituting Argentina midfielder Guido Rodriguez before the half-time break.

However, Rodriguez's replacement, Thomas Soucek, did little to lift Lopetegui's spirits as he squandered a chance by shooting directly at Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Sancho appeared rejuvenated after his loan from Manchester United, creating difficulties for the opposition with his agile dribbling in his first Premier League start since May 2023.

Palmer effectively sealed West Ham's fate in the 47th minute, receiving a pass from Jackson and slotting the ball past Areola from a tight angle.

SportsLigue