Chelsea's Rafa in search of Hammer blow

European champions Chelsea may be third in the Premier League but that will be little consolation to interim manager Rafael Benitez as he takes his side across London to West Ham on Saturday.

European champions Chelsea may be third in the Premier League but that will be little consolation to interim manager Rafael Benitez as he takes his side across London to West Ham on Saturday.

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Two successive goalless draws is not what owner Roman Abramovich wanted after sacking Roberto di Matteo, the man who brought the European Cup to Stamford Bridge for the first time courtesy of last season's Champions League triumph.

And those performances, against Manchester City and derby rivals Fulham, have done little to alter the hostility felt towards Benitez by a large section of Chelsea fans on account of the Spaniard's outspoken comments about the Blues when he was Liverpool manager.

Even wins may not be enough to appease those sections of the Chelsea faithful who remain implacably opposed to his appointment. But a win, not to mention a goal, at West Ham would be a start in an early kick-off fixture where victory would see the Blues close to within four points of Manchester United before the leaders are in action at Reading.