If anyone personified the London derby it was James Collins trudging off at half-time with his shirt torn to shreds as his team damaged Chelsea's title ambitions.
Quite how Jose Mourinho's team failed to collect three points will remain something of a puzzle since they were so dominant but West Ham deserve credit for a valiant defensive display.
Collins and his back-four were well protected by an industrious midfield. They limited Chelsea mainly to shots from distance and when the home team did penetrate the defensive shield they found goalkeeper Adrian in good form.Oscar hit bar early in the game but the home team gradually became frustrated by their failure to find the net.
Mourinho was infuriated as West Ham took their time getting the ball back into play, broke up the rhythm of the game and the Chelsea manager exploded when Joey O'Brien cut down Willian from behind.
The manager gesticulated, lobbied the officials and cajoled his players. Yet, on the pitch, the anxiety crept in, risks were taken and the visitors had chances on the break, the best of which fell to Andy Carroll, who miscued horribly.
For Carroll, it was a first start in the Barclays Premier League this season, and it made for the kind of physical battle for Chelsea centre-halves John Terry and Gary Cahill which is becoming increasingly rare.
The game was just six minutes old when Carroll escaped their attention and drifted away from Cesar Azpilicueta as Stewart Downing delivered a deep cross from the left.
Azpilicueta misjudged the ball in the air, seemed to lose his bearings and bumped into Carroll as the centre forward controlled the ball on his chest. Carroll fell and Allardyce screamed for a penalty but none was given.
#Gobe
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