In a thrilling contest, West Ham overcame Chelsea in a 3-2 victory at the London Stadium.
The game itself was a gritty and physical affair with West Ham pouncing on numerous mistakes made by the Blues.
One of these was a penalty conceded by Edouard Mendy following a terrible back pass from Jorginho.
Up stepped Argentine Forward Manuel Lanzini to take the crucial penalty.
It was Lanzini’s first start of the season for the Hammers, against the league leaders no less, putting incredible weight on his shoulders.
Reece James v Manuel Lanzini
Giving an opponent some unnerving comments before they step up to take a spot-kick can often work wonders, notable examples include Emi Martinez’s antics before a penalty against Manchester United earlier this season.
However, when giving your opponent a bit of stick does not work in your favour, embarrassment follows.
Reece James attempted to discourage the Argentinian before he took the penalty perhaps offering him some unkind comments.
James also shouted at Lanzini while the Argentine took the penalty. Unfortunately for him, Lanzini remained unfazed, striking the ball home and sending Mendy the wrong way in the process.
Immediately after the goal, Lanzini turned around and ran straight towards the English Fullback, giving him a slight shove with his shoulder letting James know that his efforts were futile.
Chelsea’s defeat added extra spice to an already enticing title race, their loss dropped them down to 3rd place on the table whereas the Hammers continue to mount a strong top 4 challenge ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Spurs, and United.
