Jackson nets brace and Palmer scores as Chelsea cruise past West Ham

Nicolas Jackson fired a slick Chelsea side second top of the Premier League table with a double in a 3-0 derby rout of an outclassed West Ham United at the London Stadium.

The lively visiting forward bounded into the home area from Jadon Sancho’s pass to slip home the opener on four minutes before adding a fine second from a run and finish on 14 minutes later after being set up by Moises Caicedo’s probing pass.

Julen Lopetegui’s struggling side briefly threatened a response before the break, but Cole Palmer finished the match as a contest when he prodded the third in off a post on 47 minutes after being superbly played in by Jackson on the counter.

Enzo Maresca’s men have picked up 10 points from four games since losing to champions Manchester City on the opening day. They move above Arsenal on goal difference, two points behind City having played one more game.

West Ham are 14th in the table with one win from five, but have other matters on their minds as they seek to arrest a form slump that has seen them lose their first three home matches of a league campaign for the first time.

It is perhaps too early to press the panic button, but West Ham looked like a side who are destined to fight a relegation battle this season rather than challenge for a European place.

After ending the successful management spell of David Moyes to bring in Lopetegui as his replacement during the summer, it was not supposed to be like this. Thousands of empty seats inside the London Stadium long before the end told its own story.

“I don’t think we were ever in the game, really. Which is probably an awful thing to say,” said home captain Jarrod Bowen on TNT Sports. “The goals they scored were very easy on our part. A disappointing day all round. We gave them too much respect.

“You want to put on a performance for the fans, but now it is about rallying together as a group and put it right. That’s the only way.”

Knocked the stuffing out of West Ham with two excellent finishes in the opening 18 minutes before emulating the feat early in the second half when he played in Palmer to tuck away a merited third.

Had the luxury of being taken off for the final 30 minutes or so. Yet still collected the player of the match award from Palmer for his outstanding contribution in a lead role.

West Ham: Areola 5, Wan-Bissaka 5, Mavropanos 5, Kilman 5, Emerson5, Alvarez 5, Rodrigugez 5, Kudus 7, Paqueta 5, Summerville 5, Bowen 6 Subs: Cresswell 6, Soler 6, Antonio 5, Soucek 6, Irving 6

Chelsea: Sanchez 7, Adarabioyo 7, Fofana 7, Colwill 7, Cucurella 7, Caicedo 7, Enzo 7, Madueke 7, Palmer 8, Sancho 7, Jackson 9 Subs: Disasi 6, Dewsbury-Hall 6, Joao Felix 6, Nkunku 6, Neto 6

4′ GOAL! WEST HAM 0-1 CHELSEA (JACKSON) Decent break by West Ham at other end, but they fail to regroup. Sancho with the pass to Jackson, and he races through from out wide to slide the ball through the legs of Areola in the Hammers goal. Home side just conked out. Dream start for Chelsea.

18′ GOAL! WEST HAM 0-2 CHELSEA (JACKSON) Well, it doesn’t rain, but it pours for the home side as Nicolas Jackson races through the home defence to drive the ball into the corner of the net. Superb run and finish. Doing the business on his 50th appearance for the club.

47′ GOAL! WEST HAM 0-3 CHELSEA (PALMER) Surely good night and good luck for West Ham as Palmer races onto the pass from Jackson to fire Chelsea 3-0 ahead. Terrific finish in off a post. Slick move West Ham fans silenced.

65′ WEST HAM DEFENCE AGAIN CUT UP Visitors enjoying so much time and space on the counter attack as Noni Madueke races through on goal, but his finish is repelled by Areola. Should have looked to pass surely.

77′ WEST HAM ALMOST SHIP A FOURTH Christopher Nkunku this time with a header at the West Ham goal, but lacked direction and Areola on hand to make the stop. A few home fans have seen enough as they head for the exit doors.