I don't want to go to Chelsea

Chelsea 2 West Ham 1 

I'm with my sports book group at Nonos Greek restaurant in Judd Street (not run by the Mavropanos family) discussing the podcast Heroes and Humans of Football for this one. News of Jarrod Bowen's goal at half-time brings an unexpected bit of hope to the menu as misfiring Chelsea consider buying Souvlaki, Dolomades and Moussaka. 

Paqueta and Alvarez are injured, so Potter gives Andy Irving his first start and sticks with four full-backs alongside Kilman at the back.

The highlights reveal there's some predictable pressure from Chelsea in the first half, with Madueke and Fernandez firing just wide. But West Ham's formation troubles Chelsea and for the Irons Irving volleys over and Bowen fires against Jorgensen's legs. 

West Ham take the lead on 42 minutes. Colwill, under pressure from Kudus, plays a blind back pass in to the path of Bowen. The returning talisman takes it brilliantly gliding a left-foot finish into the corner. Just before the break Areola makes a superb save to tip over Palmer's free kick.Could it be a gritty 1-0 away victory?

Chelsea bring on Neto who makes a difference, though their equaliser should surely have disallowed.as Colwill fouls Bowen with a blatant push in the back in the build up. As Neto crosses, Cucurella also seems to be offside as he plays the ball, though VAR rules that a defender has touched the ball first rather than Guiu. In the resulting pinball after Fernandez's shot is saved, Neto fires home the rebound.

At 1-1 Andy Irving plays in a fine cross which Kudus heads against the outside of the post, possibly from an offside position. Abandoning my soccerarti pals I arrive at the Mabel pub just in time to pay £7.85 for a pint of Neck Oil and see Chelsea score a lucky winner. The impressive Palmer glides into the box, where his cross from the left wing takes a huge deflection off Wan-Bissaka's boot and spins up and over Areola. 

Palmer curls a shot just wide but West Ham give it a go late on. Potter isn't scared to send on kids Scarles and Orford while Guilherme does some good stuff on the right wing. Wan-Bissaka wastes a good chance to cross after a nice move. A surging run from Guilherme sees him find Bowen who crosses to Kudus, who spins and shoots but sees his goalbound effort blocked by Chalobah.

West Ham get a deserved ovation from the fans at the final whistle, We have almost got a result against a top four team with an injury-ravaged side, which is very different to the 3-0 capitulation at home to Chelsea earlier this season and last season's 5-0 defeat. Bowen is fit again and with Ferguson and Ward-Prowse added to the squad there's room for some optimism.