The Blues beat Sam Allardyce's crew with a narrow 1-0 score line to preserve their five-point lead at the top.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho praised his side and his players after they fought to a slim 1-0 win over West Ham, on Wednesday.

Four days after their League Cup success on Saturday at the expense of Tottenham, the Blues traveled to Upton Park to face off against the Hammers, needing a first-half goal from Eden Hazard to secure a win.

The victory keeps intact Chelsea's five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, who also won that same day, with the title very much in the Special One's grasp.

"When good football is not enough, we fight, we suffer together, we cope with difficult moments," said the former Real Madrid man, after the final whistle.

Eden Hazard, Ramires, Chelsea, West Ham, English Premier League

"It was not the best game to play after the final. The final is more than a game, because of tension, pressure and emotions.

"Some periods we had to defend with everything. It's a game where you easily can lose two points. We had chances to kill the game. We were expecting that.

"We didn't and when you don't do that against West Ham you are in permanent danger. The way West Ham play, nobody is better than them. These three points are massive for us."

There were calls of offside for the winning goal from Sam Allardyce. However, Mourinho was quick to blow of these allegations from the West Ham boss, saying:

“Eden starts the action outside the box and he moves the ball, Fabregas, Oscar, pass to Ramires.

“I don't think Ramires is offside and Eden coming from outside the box I don't think is offside. But I didn't see on television. Maybe Sam saw it, but for me, no.

"Now we are trying to build. We have one cup in the pocket. Let's see what we can do.”