Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell came off the bench to earn Chelsea all three points as they beat West Ham 2-1 after a chaotic conclusion at Stamford Bridge.
After a dire first-half, Michail Antonio put the visitors in front after the break on what was a rare foray into Chelsea territory for the Hammers, bundling home from close range.
They were unable to hold onto the lead though, as Chilwell netted his first goal since returning from a serious injury, before Kai Havertz struck with two minutes remaining to complete the turnaround.
There was still time for Maxwel Cornet to have the ball in the back of the net as the Hammers celebrated what looked set to be the most dramatic of equalisers, but after a VAR review it was ruled out very controversially for a foul on Edouard Mendy.
While it was a much-needed three points for Thomas Tuchel’s side, questions still remain after another below-par display in what has been a stumbling start to the season.
Wesley Fofana made his first Chelsea appearance as he started for the Blues, while Lucas Paqueta was handed a full debut following his cameo off the bench against Tottenham.
There was little in the way of action or entertainment in the opening 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge, a more solid Chelsea shape coming up against a West Ham side getting everyone behind the ball when out of possession.
The Blues dominated the ball, with more than 70% of it in the first-half, but they were unable to turn that into any meaningful chances. Christian Pulisic had a shot blocked, Pablo Fornals fired wide and that was about the peak of excitement in west London.
A match broke out after the break, the crowd getting involved as they at last had a spectacle to engage with.
The number of corners wasted by Chelsea was into double figures by the time West Ham took the lead from a set-piece of their own. The Blues failed to defend it well enough, Declan Rice finding space at the far post to cut it back across the face of goal and Antonio provided the finishing touch from close range.
Chelsea got themselves level with just under 15 minutes remaining, as Chilwell equalised shortly after he was brought on. The left-back did brilliantly to poke the ball past the onrushing Lukasz Fabianski, from what appeared to be an impossible angle.
Chilwell got an assist to go with his goal, as he played the ball into the box and fellow substitute Havertz finished well in the closing stages as Tuchel’s changes worked to perfection.
Cornet, who hit the post when he really should have scored just minutes before that Havertz strike, then did have the ball in the back of the net, but West Ham’s celebrations were cut short as the strike was questionably ruled out after a VAR review for a foul by Jarrod Bowen on Mendy in the build-up.
