Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.

Tonight’s London derby sees third-placed Chelsea take on third-bottom West Ham. The Blues know that a victory this evening by a two-goal margin could send them back to the top of the table, if Manchester City fail to pick up three points against Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea have won their past seven matches in all competitions and will be confident of a win against a struggling West Ham side. The visitors have won just one of their past nine games and have won one game in the league since November.

The teams have just been announced, so let's take a look at who will be starting this evening.

CHELSEA XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Mikel, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Eto’o

WEST HAM XI: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Collins, O'Brien, Noble, Taylor, Nolan, Downing, Diame, Carroll

CHELSEA SUBS: Schwarzer, Cole, David Luiz, Matic, Lampard, Schurrle, Ba

WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, McCartney, Jarvis, Nocerino, Morrison, C.Cole, Borriello

TEAM NEWS: There is no place in the Chelsea starting XI for Frank Lampard, as John Obi Mikel starts alongside Ramires in the midfield. Oscar and Eden Hazard continue to support Samuel Eto'o in the attack, while Nemanja Matic drops to the bench following his debut at the weekend. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has named Andy Carroll in his starting lineup and Kevin Nolan returns after a suspension. New signing Marco Borriello is on the bench.

This is the first league outing for both these teams in more than a week. Chelsea were in cup action at the weekend against Stoke City, when an Oscar free kick booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Their reward for that win is a mouthwatering clash against Manchester City. West Ham's last fixture was a 3-0 defeat to City in their League Cup semi-final second leg, having lost the first leg 6-0.

These two sides last met back in November, when Chelsea ran out 3-0 winners. Two goals from Frank Lampard and an Oscar strike gave them a comfortable win at Upton Park, and Blues fans will be confident of a similar scoreline in West London this evening.

Only Manchester City have a better home record in the Premier League than Chelsea. The Blues have won 10 of their 11 fixtures at Stamford Bridge, with only West Bromwich Albion stopping them from taking three points. The same can't be said of the Hammers, who have won just two of their 11 league matches at Upton Park.

Another daunting statistic for West Ham fans, is the defensive record of the hosts. They have conceded a league best 20 goals, and kept eight clean sheets. In comparison, the The Hammers have leaked 33 goals this season, and recent heavy defeats against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City have added to their woes.

While West Ham would not expect to get anything from this game, their lowly position in the table means that they desperately need to pick up points at every opportunity. They are currently in 18th place, and are level on 18 points with Sunderland and Cardiff City. Only goal difference is keeping them off the bottom of the table. A win or a draw for them tonight would lift them above Fulham, who are one point and one place above them.

There are so many players in great form for Chelsea at the moment, and one of those is Eden Hazard. The winger has scored three goals in his last five league games, and has found the net 11 times this season. Another player hoping to get on the scoresheet is Samuel Eto'o, who hit a hat-trick against Manchester United in his last Premier League outing.

The return of Andy Carroll to the West Ham team gives them increased options in attack, which is an area they have really struggled in this season. Their current top goalscorer in the league is Carlton Cole, with four strikes. They have averaged a goal a game, and have scored 22 times in 22 games.

Two players that could help the Hammers in their relegation battle are Italian duo Marco Borriello and Antonio Nocerino, who have arrived at the club in the past week. They have won 22 caps for the Azzurri between them and their experience of playing for big teams such as AC Milan, Juventus and Roma will certainly come in handy.

Chelsea have also been busy in the transfer window, and recent signing Nemanja Matic begins on the bench this evening, after playing during the weekend's FA Cup win. Mohamed Salah has also completed a move to the Blues, but is not yet available to play, as he has not arrived in the country.

In the last 10 Premier League meetings between the teams, West Ham have come out on top just once. That was during last season's fixture at Upton Park. You have to go back to December 2008 when the Hammers came away with anything at Stamford Bridge, with the game finishing in a 1-1 draw on that occasion.

There are a number of other crucial games taking place this evening, that fans of both teams will be keeping an eye out for. At the bottom of the table Sunderland take on Stoke City, while Midlands rivals Aston Vila host West Brom. The clash between Manchester City and Spurs will be what most Chelsea fans are focused on.

PREDICTION: The form of the two teams coming into this game couldn't be more different. Chelsea have been moving into top gear, whilst West Ham are struggling badly. It is hard to see how the visitors will come away with anything tonight, and I expect the Blues to win, with 2-0 my prediction of the score.

The players are making their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch.

It is a wet evening in London, and the players are just about ready to get this game started.

KICKOFF! We are underway at Stamford Bridge!

West Ham will have an early chance to get players into the box, after winning a corner in the first minute of the game.

Nolan takes set piece and it is headed clear by Oscar. Chelsea immediately break forward at pace, and win their own corner.

The first corner for the home team goes to waste, as the Hammers are able to clear away the danger.

Chelsea are seeing a lot of the ball in the opening stages, but the visitors are quickly closing down their forward players.

The visitors feel that they should have a penalty, after Carroll takes down a long ball inside the box, and goes down under a clumsy challenge from Azpilicueta. It looked like there was contact, but the full back didn't know too much about it.

OFF THE BAR! Chelsea nearly take the lead after a wonderful strike from Hazard! He collects the ball on the left hand side of the box, before bending in a curling effort, that the keeper does brilliantly to tip onto the bar.

West Ham have shown intent to get forward in this match, and have done well to win a free kick by the left hand touchline. They must beat the first man, as with players like Carroll in the box they have a chance.

CHANCE! The visitors come within inches of finding the net, as the free kick is met by Tomkins, who sees his header saved by Cech. The keeper gets a huge slice of luck, as he pushes the shot onto Nolan, and it deflects just wide of the post.

Chelsea are keen to try their luck from range this evening, and Willian works himself some space just outside the box, before lashing a drive over the bar.

The home side go route one, as Ivanovic launches a long ball forward that Hazard nods down to Eto'o to strike on the edge of the box, but the striker doesn't make clean contact, and slices his effort wide.

Hazard goes down for Chelsea after a tough challenge from Taylor. He won the ball cleanly, but followed through on the winger. It looks like he is going to be fine for continue, and no treatment is needed.

Chelsea are finding it hard to get in behind the West Ham defence, and are being forced to play the ball back. The Hammers are getting their challenges in quickly and are looking to pose a threat themselves on the break.

Again Chelsea are forced into an effort from long range, as Mikel tries to find the bottom corner with a low strike, but it lacks the power to trouble the keeper and ends up going wide of the post.

Ramires is next to try his luck from distance, and attempts to find the top left hand corner with a fierce drive from 25 yards out, that heads over the bar.

Diame is in some discomfort for West Ham after going over the advertising hoardings and into the crowd. He comes back onto the pitch, after receiving some treatment on the sidelines.

It looks like Diame is going to have to go off, as he signals to the bench that he can't continue.

SUBSTITUTION: Diame heads off and Jarvis comes on to replace him.

We haven't seen too much of Oscar in the opening half-hour, and he attempts to find the net with a fierce strike from range, but fizzes his effort wide.

West Ham have a rare spell of possession, and they manage to win a corner, after Cahill slices a clearance behind.

Downing takes the set piece, and makes a complete mess of it, as he plays the ball towards the edge of the area, and nowhere near any of his teammates. They have shown through Tomkins's early header they can be a threat from these situations, and must do better than that.

Carroll has certainly added an extra dimension to the West Ham attack, and he is causing Chelsea problems every time a long ball is launched forward in his direction. The dilemma for the Hammers is getting players up quickly enough in support and not leaving themselves open at the back.

Hazard has looked the most likely to open the scoring tonight, and works some space on the edge of the box, before attempting to curl an effort into the top corner, but this time his strike goes straight into the gloves of Adrian.

CHANCE! Chelsea increase the pressure at the end of the half and Eto'o does well to win a corner. From the set-piece, Terry meets the ball with a thumping header, but Adrian does well to block the effort with his feet.

We are going to have three minutes of time added at the end of the half.

CHANCE! West Ham have Adrian to thank for being level, as Eto'o collects a loose ball in the area, before powering in a drive that the keeper pushes round the post.

Despite their domination, Chelsea end the half against West Ham goalless. They have had the better chances, but have not been able to test keeper Adrian consistently.

Chelsea have enjoyed a huge 71% of the possession and have had 10 strikes on their opponents goal. Only four of those efforts were on target, as Terry and Eto'o came close before half time. West Ham have only had one attempt on target, when Tomkins forced Cech into a good save.

In the game between Tottenham and Manchester City, the visitors have a 1-0 lead thanks to Sergio Aguero's strike. That result means that they would go top of the league, with Chelsea staying in third as things stand.

It will be interesting to see how long Andy Carroll will last this evening, considering his lack of football in recent months. He has caused Terry and Cahill some troubling moments, but Borriello and Cole may make an appearance at some stage.

The players are back out and we are just moments away from the second half.

West Ham kick off and get the match back underway.

Chelsea begin the half on the front foot, and they come close from a corner, which is met by Cahill, but he gets underneath his header and puts his effort over the bar.

The home team are camped outside the West Ham box and after a long spell of possession, Willian slips in into the box for Hazard, but the angle is tight and fires an effort wide of the goal.

It is all Chelsea, and Oscar gets down the right hand side, before whipping in a teasing low ball across the box, that none of his teammates can get onto.

Oscar is involved again for Chelsea, as he is found 25 yards out from goal, before attempting to bend an effort past Adrian, but can only strike it down the middle with the keeper easily gathering up the ball.

Willian shows his skill to burst down the right wing and does brilliantly to drive a ball across the box, but again there is no one in Chelsea colours in the six-yard box to meet the delivery.

CHANCE! Ramires wastes a good chance for the home side, after meeting Azpilicueta's cross at the back post, but can't keep his effort down and fires wide of the post. The Blues are in complete control and surely West Ham can't continue to be pushed back so far into their half.

YELLOW CARD! O'Brien picks up a booking for West Ham after a tough tackle from behind on Willian.

West Ham launch a rare counter-attack, and Downing does brilliantly to beat Ivanovic and get to the byline. He lifts the ball to the back post for Carroll, but the striker fluffs his effort and the Blues manage to clear the danger.

YELLOW CARD! The Hammers pick up a second booking in quick succession, when Taylor brings down Ramires.

DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea make a double change, as Matic and Lampard come on for Azpilicueta and Mikel.

SUBSTITUTION: The Hammers also make a change, as Carroll makes way for Cole.

CHANCE! Hazard comes close to breaking the deadlock, as he cuts in from the left, before drilling a shot wide of the far post.

There is definitely a chance for West Ham to snatch a goal in this game with this game still goalless. The Blues have played a couple of sloppy passes in midfield and there could be the possibility of a quick break.

YELLOW CARD! Nolan becomes the third Hammers player to pick up a booking this evening.

West Ham are camped inside their own box and their defence are still hanging on despite the unrelenting pressure of the Chelsea attack. Allardyce will have been delighted at how his players have done so far, and will hope they can hold out for the closing stages.

Chelsea are still being forced into long range strikes, and substitute Matic tries his luck with a couple of strikes, but they are both poor and fail to hit the target.

SUBSTITUTION: Chelsea make their final change, as Ba comes on for Oscar.

SUBSTITUTION: West Ham also make a change, as Nolan heads off to replaced by Nocerino.

It has been the same old story for most of the match for Chelsea, as again they are forced into a strike from outside the box, with Cahill seeing his tame effort saved comfortably by Adrian.

YELLOW CARD! Ramires becomes the first Chelsea player to be booked this evening.

The fans are getting frustrated at what they are seeing, and Ivanovic adds to their feelings, by lashing a half-volley past the post from around 30 yards out.

Jarvis goes down in the box following a corner, and it looks like he has injured his shoulder. He is heading off the pitch and may not play for the rest of the match.

We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time. Will West Ham be able to hold on to what would be a hard-earned point?

Chelsea have everyone forward, and Willian plays a lovely pass through to Ramies on the right, but his cross into the middle is well overhit and goes out for a throw in.

OFF THE POST! All of West Ham's good defensive work nearly comes to an end, as Ba meets a cross at the near post, and sees his effort come back off the post.

CHANCE! Lampard comes close to winning the game at the very end, but his low strike from just inside the box is brilliantly saved by Adrian.

What a result for West Ham, they have held on to claim a goalless draw against Chelsea. The home side had over 30 shots on goal, but were unable to find a way past Adrian.

The result means that Chelsea stay third in the table, and are now three points behind Manchester City in the table. West Ham stay 18th, but have moved above Fulham, and will gain huge confidence from their display here tonight.

That's all we've got time for here. Please stay with us at Sports Mole for all of tonight's results, but from me, it's goodbye.