Nicolas Jackson’s brace powered Chelsea to a convincing 3-0 victory over London rivals West Ham United on Saturday, marking their second consecutive away win and highlighting the progress made under new coach Enzo Maresca.
The Senegalese forward wasted no time making his mark, scoring within four minutes.
He capitalized on a defensive lapse to break free behind West Ham’s backline and slotted the ball between the legs of Alphonse Areola with composure.
Jackson’s first goal came after he sprinted down the wing, cut inside unopposed, and unleashed a low drive under the Hammers’ goalkeeper.
His second strike followed soon after, as he latched onto a precise through ball from Moises Caicedo and doubled Chelsea’s lead, exposing West Ham’s fragile defense.
Just over a minute into the second half, Jackson turned provider, setting up Cole Palmer, who fired a clinical shot from the edge of the box to make it 3-0.
Despite a potential lifeline for West Ham when Mohammed Kudus appeared to be pulled down by Wesley Fofana in the area, a lengthy VAR review upheld the referee’s decision not to award a penalty.
This result lifted Chelsea to second in the Premier League standings, with West Ham languishing in 14th place under new boss Julen Lopetegui.
Watching from the stands, Chelsea’s owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali might now feel less urgency to dip into the transfer market come January, thanks to Jackson’s standout performance.
After his Man of the Match display, Jackson now boasts four goals and two assists in the 2024/25 season.
His dynamic presence in attack has not only justified Maresca’s faith in him but also enhanced the effectiveness of Chelsea’s wingers.
Despite West Ham’s struggles, Jackson’s ability to exploit their defensive weaknesses demonstrated his growing influence in the team’s offensive play.
