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Cesc Fabregas is walking a disciplinary tightrope for the next month after picking up his ninth yellow card of the season at West Ham on Wednesday night.
Fabregas is facing a two-game ban should he pick up a tenth in the League before the FA's deadline for reaching the double figure landmark runs out on April 12, report the Evening Standard .
Chelsea have four matches to play before that point, against Southampton, Hull, Stoke and QPR.
Worryingly for manager Jose Mourinho, if the Spain international receives the tenth booking in the match at QPR on April 11th, he will sit out the huge games at home against Manchester United and his return to former club Arsenal.
Fabregas has been one of Chelsea's best players this season and accrued 15 assists in the top flight thus far.
Show all 23 1 /23West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Adrian Could do nothing about the goal and produced an absolutely brilliant save with his feet to deny Ramires and keep the score at 1-0. 7
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Carl Jenkinson Performed a perfect last-ditch tackle on Diego Costa on the first-half but struggled to deal with the threat of Eden Hazard. Gets forward well, however. 6
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings James Tomkins Chelsea's best attacking moments came when West Ham were up the field and able to counter. Handled Costa well. 7
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Winston Reid Pulled up after just five minutes with what looked like a hamstring problem; replaced by James Collins. N/A
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Aaron Cresswell The full back loves to get forward but failed to realise his attacking ambitions were allowing Chelsea chances - he was out of position for the goal and when Ramires hit the post. 5
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Mark Noble A touch of class on the ball in a West Ham team that still likes to play direct. Good on the ball but missed the protection and energy of Alex Song. 7
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Cheikhou Kouyate Allowed Cesc Fabregas too much time to pick and pop as he pleased. Showed one bursting run forward, when he clashed heads with John Terry, but West Ham needed it more. 6
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Kevin Nolan Worked as hard as any player in claret and blue but was playing too deep to have an impact in the attacking third. Perhaps if one of Sakho's chances fell to the wily captain West Ham would have something from the game. 7
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Stewart Downing Anonymous on the right in the first-half, he switched wings and become West Ham's most dangerous attacking threat. A couple of excellent crosses were well defended by the Blues. 7
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Diafra Sakho Seemed destined not to get on the scoresheet. Worked hard and moved well but Sakho is in the team to score and he had five excellent chance - through a mixture of poor finishing and Courtois' miraculous goalkeeping, the striker was thwarted. 5
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Enner Valencia Shifted out wide the Ecuadorian was always a threat with his pace but too often failed to deliver the telling ball. 6
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings From the bench: James Collins Came on in the early stages and defended as manfully as ever. Couldn't do much about the goal and stood up to Costa's physical presence. 7
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Thibaut Courtois The Belgian was already considered one of the world's very best heading into the game, he somehow managed to pull off a plethora of saves that had the Upton Park crowd gasping in awe/anger. Out of this world. 9
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Branislav Ivanovic One of his worst performances of the season, Ivanovic was left exposed by Ramires far too often but he was uncharacteristically sloppy. Gave the ball away in dangerous areas on several occasions leading to needless danger. 5
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Gary Cahill After his brief spell out of the team a couple of weeks ago the England centre-back is rejuvenated. Completely comfortable all night and classy when in position, it was a rare game this season when he has outshone Terry. 8
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings John Terry Terry was not at his best and was exposed in the early going by Sakho and Valencia's pace. He won't thank Ivanovic for a poor back pass that got him in the book, although he did make several key blocks later on. 7
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta Marked Stewart Downing out of the game in the first period and was equally happy marking Enner Valencia. Didn't get forward as much as usual but that may have been part of the plan. 7
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Kurt Zouma Another fantastic performance in the centre of midfield by the 20-year-old centre-back. Reads the game like a player 10 years his senior, snuffing out attacks before they reach dangerous levels. More than competent on the ball, too. 8
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Ramires His energy and pace always means he is able to get into positions few others can. But he really had to score when hitting the post following a swift counter attack, although his header brought a great save out of Adrian. Didn't protect Ivanoivc but provided a great cross for the goal. A real mixed bag. 6.
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Cesc Fabregas In the first-half he seemed two steps ahead of the West Ham midfield and it was his quick outlet on the counter that brought the first goal. But as West Ham grew into the game he diminished and was eventually out muscled by Kouyate, Nolan and Noble. He's missing Matic more than anyone. 7
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Oscar The Brazilian flutters in and out of games far too often and can be a passenger when Chelsea are under pressure. When the Blues are on top he is one of the best around but he has to be more assertive for the whole 90mins. 5
West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Eden Hazard A really strange performance from Hazard. Was the match winner - and that's what matters most - but he wasn't his dominant self. Also squandered two great opportunities, one with a weak finish that was saved and another when he squared to Willian when through one-on-one. 7
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West Ham 0 Chelsea 1 player ratings Diego Costa Only had one real sight at goal and was expertly tackled by Jenkinson before he had the chance to shoot. Other than that he held the ball up and linked play expertly. A very good performance in the lone striker role away from home. 7
The 27-year-old has missed only three League games and their passing game has suffered in his absence, particularly in the 1-1 draw with title rivals Manchester City in January.
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