With a 13-point cushion over Manchester City and Arsenal, there was limited anxiety inside a packed Stamford Bridge as the home fans knew that failing to win it on Saturday would simply postpone the party for another day
Browsing: Eden Hazard
Manchester United goalkeeper, David de Gea, and Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand find themselves in the XI, with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho adding a South-American flavour to the lineup
United are now 11 points back and victory over second-placed Arsenal next weekend and another win after that would seal the championship for Jose Mourinho side
Charlie Adam struck from inside his own half to cancel out a penalty from Eden Hazard, who supplied Remy for the deciding goal after a mistake from Asmir Begovic
The visitors made a strong start to the match, needing at least one away goal to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals
The Hammers were the first team to threaten as Kevin Nolan found Cheikhou Kouyate on the edge of the area, but the midfielder failed to beat Thibaut Courtois with a drive from the edge of the box
The Blues received a big boost prior to kickoff with news that Manchester City, their closest challengers in the Premier League title race, had slipped up against Liverpool, and perhaps buoyed by that it was they who made the more positive start in the English capital
Hazard and Willian have been key men is Chelsea’s march to the Premier League summit with their pace and trickery proving too much for opposition defences time and time again this season
After a Christmas without much rotation, Jose Mourinho has rested key men such as Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas for visit of the Championship promotion hopefuls
The win also lifts Spurs above rivals, Arsenal, into fifth place, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side now just two points adrift of the top four
Belgian attacking midfielder Hazard passed a late fitness test to start at Stamford Bridge and his influence was key with another stellar display that left the Hammers’ defence chasing his shadow
Hazard was fouled by Eduardo Vargas and took the spot kick himself in the 76th minute at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea provisionally moved nine points clear of main title rival, Manchester City, ahead of its derby against Manchester United on Sunday
Jose Mourinho had labelled Chelsea ‘the small-horse’ in a three-horse title race