The Blues were the better team in the first half but still went into the break a goal behind after Jarrod Bowen capitalised on a mistake.

Enzo Maresca made a number of changes early in the second period and it paid dividends as Pedro Neto equalised just after the hour, before a deflected Cole Palmer shot went in with the help of Aaron Wan-Bissaka ten minutes later.

Two changes

Enzo Maresca made two alterations to the side which lost 3-1 to Manchester City, as Filip Jorgensen replaced Robert Sanchez in goal and Tosin Adarabioyo came into the side in place of Trevoh Chalobah.

The first clear-cut chance arrived after a quarter of an hour as Nicolas Jackson ran from deep and released Noni Madueke. The England winger dribbled into the box and struck a powerful left-footed shot which went narrowly wide of the far post.

West Ham responded by enjoying a brief period of pressure which saw Bowen force Jorgensen into a near-post stop from a corner and then Andy Irving fire over the bar with a volley from outside the penalty area.

The Blues enjoyed more possession, though, and shortly after Palmer had sent an effort over the bar, some neat build-up play from the home side ended with Marc Cucurella heading Reece James' first-time cross wide.

The pressure was mounting and after a wayward pass from Mohammed Kudus, Madueke drove at the West Ham defence and slipped the ball through to Enzo Fernandez, who did well to adjust his feet quickly to control and get a shot away but it was wide of the far post.

A failed Hammers clearance then led to Jadon Sancho sending a dangerous low ball across the face of goal as we continued to go in search of the first goal.

The visitors sent a warning shot when a ball forward saw Kudus get in behind but his effort was too central and it was a routine stop for Jorgensen.

Opening goal

And a minute after Sancho curled an effort over and wide following a Chelsea counterattack, West Ham took the lead. A pass deep in our half landed at the feet of Bowen and he bent a low shot from the edge of the penalty area into the far, bottom corner for 1-0.

The goal arrived in the 42nd minute but there was still time for Chelsea to go agonisingly close to an equaliser. Palmer's free-kick from 25 yards would have found the top corner had it not been for an outstanding diving save from Alphonse Areola.

Maresca made two early second-half substitutions, as Marc Guiu and Neto were introduced in place of Jackson and Sancho on 52 minutes.

West Ham continued to carry a threat after the restart. Emerson sent a shot over and wide, before a neat move ended with Bowen having a goal-bound effort blocked.

Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto were introduced on the hour, in place of Madueke and James, and it was a couple of the replacements who played a big part in our equaliser.

Turnaround complete

The ball was moved out to the right wing where Neto cut inside and delivered an in-swinging cross to the far post. Guiu's leap unsettled the defenders and when Cucurella turned the ball back to Enzo, his shot was blocked and the ball rolled into the path of Neto to fire in from close range. There was a lengthy VAR check to see if Guiu had headed to Cucurella but he hadn't and the goal was given.

And ten minutes later, we were ahead. Blues pressure resulted in Palmer driving into the left-hand side of the penalty area and his powerful shot was deflected over Areola into the far corner by Wan-Bissaka.

The Blues kept searching for another goal and went close twice in quick succession. Tosin had a header from a free-kick pushed away by Areola and then Palmer had the net rustling when his 20-yard curler hit the stanchion.

Chelsea controlled the game well as we approached injury-time and it looked as though Guiu would score a third when Neto got to the byline and cut the ball back. But the striker was unable to get his shot away.

However, West Ham countered and went straight up the other end. Kudus would have scored with a close-range finish had it not been for an exceptional goal-saving block by Tosin.

In the seventh minute of injury-time, Konstantinos Mavropanos had a long-range shot easily saved by Jorgensen but the Blues held on for all three points.

What it means

Tonight's 2-1 win means the Blues are back into the top four, two points ahead of Manchester City in fifth and four behind Nottingham Forest in third.

What's next

Chelsea's next game will come on Saturday when we travel to Brighton & Hove Albion for our FA Cup fourth round tie.

We then return to Premier League action against the same opposition, at the same venue, on Friday 14 February.

The teams

Chelsea: Jorgensen; James (c) (Gusto 60), Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke (Nkunku 60), Palmer (Chalobah 87), Sancho (Neto 52); Jackson (Guiu 52)
Subs not used: Sanchez, Acheampong, Dewsbury-Hall, George
Goals: Neto 64, Wan-Bissaka OG 74
Bookings: James 57, Enzo 67, Palmer 68

West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Coufal (Mavropanos 72), Kilman, Cresswell (Luis Guilherme 87), Emerson (Scarles 71), Irving (Orford 77), Souček, Soler (Ings 77), Kudus, Bowen (c)
Subs not used: Fabiański, Foderingham, Casey, Rodriguez
Goals: Bowen 42
Bookings: Irving 75

Referee: Stuart Atwell
Attendance: 39,459