Sunday, November 7, 1999 Published at 18:34 GMT
Goalless as east meets west
Chelsea 0-0 West Ham
West Ham left Stamford Bridge with a point after a goalless east versus west London derby stopped the rot for both clubs.
That was on 3 October, and since then the two London rivals have hit bad patches they cannot have imagined after such encouraging starts to last month.
In this Sunday's dire game, the dismissal of West Ham's Javier Margas five minutes from time was the only real noteworthy incident.
The Chilean defender had already been booked when he lashed out with an elbow at Didier Deschamps five minutes from the end.
The point left Gianluca Vialli's side 10 points adrift of Manchester United at the top of the table.
After both clubs' midweek European exertions the game predictably lacked any real pace or passion with the home side only managing one shot on target in the first half.
Dan Petrescu had the ball in the net within the first minute as Dan Petrescu fired past Craig Forrest, but the Romanian was offside.
With Paolo Di Canio injured, West Ham manager Harry Redknapp pushed Trevor Sinclair forward to partner Paulo Wanchope in attack.
But Marcel Desailly was back alongside Frank Leboeuf after suspension, and the French pair were equal to the makeshift strike partnership.
Rare inspiration from Cole
Joe Cole helped set up West Ham's best move of the first half on 17 minutes.
The teenager played a delightful one-two with Sinclair who then turned Ferrer on the edge of the area before curling his shot wide of the far post.
Margas was then booked for a tackle from behind on Flo, and Lomas and Poyet soon followed Margas into referee Mike Riley's notebook.
It took the home side until the 44th minute to even register a shot on target, Jody Morris bringing a good save from Forrest with a low drive from 25 yards.
The second half started somewhat brighter and within minutes Chelsea had fashioned their best chance of the game.
Zola's corner found Flo at the far post and his header looked like sneaking inside the far post before Wanchope volleyed clear from just in front of the goal-line.
Ferrer and Leboeuf were then booked but it was the home side who were gradually assuming control.
Morris had a thunderous left-foot shot blocked by a crowd of West Ham defenders and Petrescu glanced a header wide.
Chelsea made the first substitution, bringing on Gabriele Ambrosetti for the ineffectual Zola.
But the bookings continued and a second yellow card for one of the earlier offenders seemed likely.
Deschamps flashed a speculative volley over from Ambrosetti's free-kick before the French midfielder was the victim of Margas in the game's most exciting incident.
Redknapp protested from the touchline, but could have no real complaints, and his ten men hung on for the remaining five minutes.
Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer, Desailly, Leboeuf, Babayaro, Petrescu, Deschamps, Morris, Poyet, Flo, Zola. Subs: Di Matteo, Ambrosetti, Lambourde, Cudicini, Forssell.
West Ham: Forrest, Stimac, Ferdinand, Margas, Sinclair, Lomas, Foe, Lampard, Keller, Cole, Wanchope. Subs: Bywater, Charles, Ruddock, Kitson, Moncur.
Referee: M Riley (Leeds)