Six games into the Premier League season, someone has managed to find an antidote to Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea.
That it was West Ham who managed it after Huddersfield, Arsenal, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Cardiff failed, is more a matter of local pride than any actual disaster.
But it does highlight the fact that Chelsea might sometimes need a Plan B this season. And that the frequency of that need might increase now that a pretty blunt tactic has managed to so frustrate the Plan A.
The Hammers succeeded where others had largely failed: in being more organised at getting two solid banks of Claret behind the ball, and working well on the counter.
They let Chelsea take the game to them and, in an off day for their main striking option (Olivier Giroud), and a rare show of charity in front of goal by Eden Hazard, they actually came closest of the two sides to collecting all the points.
Had Andriy Yarmolenko instead been the missing Marko Arnautovic, the end result could have been a different story.
est Ham United's Ukrainian striker Andriy Yarmolenko (C) misses with this header during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium, in east London on September 23, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Several times, the Blues found themselves breaking through on goal, only to find their most advanced midfielder was N'Golo Kante.
Kante is many things. And while, arguably, the world's best defensive midfield disrupter is one of those; a striker he is not.
And it has been a point of growing confusion this season, among many, that Sarri chooses to play him so out of position.
N'golo Kante of Chelsea battles for possession with Arthur Masuaku of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea FC at London Stadium on September 23, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
If he bags one of those chances, then the legend of the player grows immeasurably as a result (who remembers Claude Makelele's penalty rebound against Charlton?)
But there can be no criticism of him for failing; square pegs, round holes, and all that.
Sarri's Chelsea are in by far a better position than anyone could reasonably have expected at this stage of the season.
They have had the perfect start in what is a campaign aimed at securing a top-four finish: and this result doesn't change that.
But, while the new boss is trying to get his side playing his particular brand of football, there needs to be some pragmatism.
If zipping the ball about midfield isn't working, an in-case-of-emergency-break-glass option is needed – Route One even.
Every goal doesn't need to be the perfect goal. At this stage, it just needs to go in.
That seems to be missing as an option right now.
“In 0-0 draw between West Ham and Chelsea on 23 September 2018, Jorginho set a new Premier League record. Over the course of 90 minutes, what did he do 180 times?”
Pass. (With apologies to Morecambe and Wise).
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