WITH its season all but over, Chelsea took some pleasure in stopping London rival West Ham from moving into the top four of the English Premier League in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

    West Ham is fifth, one point behind Manchester City.

    Knocked out of the FA Cup and the Champions League in the last week, Chelsea got its goals from Cesc Fabregas, including an 89th-minute penalty after Ruben Loftus-Cheek was judged to have been tripped by Michail Antonio. Replays suggested minimal contact at most and outside the area.

    Andy Carroll made it 2-1 in the 61st, scoring one minute after coming off the bench, after Fabregas’ brilliant free kick canceled out Manuel Lanzini’s superb opener in the first half.

    On the bright side of a dismal season, midtable Chelsea’s unbeaten league run was extended to 14 games — 13 of those under interim boss Guus Hiddink — as the defending champion licks its wounds after the FA Cup defeat at Everton and Champions League round-of-16 exit against Paris Saint-Germain.

    (SD-Agencies)