Kalou sends Chelsea to Barcelona on a high

Salomon Kalou ensured Chelsea will travel to Barcelona for next week’s Champions League semi-final in buoyant mood after sealing their 1-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.

The Ivory Coast international made the most of a rare start under Guus Hiddink by plundering the only goal of a scrappy game early in the second half.

He turned in Frank Lampard’s cross from close range, and victory was assured when Petr Cech saved Mark Noble’s 70th-minute penalty.

Three points have little relevance to Chelsea on the domestic front, their English Premier League title ambitions having died against Everton last Wednesday, but it will pep their confidence ahead of the daunting encounter with Barca.

Indeed, the Dutch interim manager might consider the fact his squad departed east London without any major injury scares as his most satisfying achievement, although he had done his best to minimise the risks.

As expected, Jose Bosingwa was deployed as a makeshift left-back to ready him for the Nou Camp, where first choice Ashley Cole will be suspended, although whether containing the limp Luis Boa Morte will prepare him for confronting Lionel Messi is another matter.

Hiddink will be just pleased that Michael Essien and Michael Ballack were only employed briefly as second-half substitutes, while Didier Drogba and Alex were not needed at all.

Chelsea’s satisfaction was in stark contrast to West Ham, for whom defeat represented a grievous blow to their hopes of sealing the seventh-placed finish which should guarantee Europa League football next season. With Fulham and Tottenham, their major rivals, in ominous form, Gianfranco Zola’s side must rebuild their confidence quickly.

Zola will have been dismayed at his team’s paltry effort here against a Chelsea side which, perhaps inevitably given the changes, never threatened to reach top gear.

The first half was dismal and, aside from a long-range effort from Lampard and a low shot Nicolas Anelka pulled just wide of the left-hand post, West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green was largely reduced to sun-bathing duties.

The hosts, for their part, were inexplicably slack, although they still created the most inviting chances. In the 20th minute, a delightful turn from Diego Tristan allowed the Uruguayan to slide a perfectly weighted pass to Kieron Dyer between John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic.

Dyer, returning from the latest in a long line of injuries, had only Petr Cech to beat but never looked assured and his weak shot was little better than a back-pass.

Tristan had his own chance shortly before half-time, when Matthew Upson headed down Noble’s corner. Tristan flicked towards goal from five yards but his limp effort was cleared off the line by John Mikel Obi.

West Ham were to rue those misses. Chelsea emerged after the break in a more purposeful mood and forged ahead in the 54th minute. Lampard drove to the by-line and, after Green failed to cut out his chipped cross, Kalou poked high into the net.

The goal punctured the hosts. Chelsea gradually took control, pinging passes around at their leisure and leaving West Ham grasping at thin air.

Two beautifully constructed moves deserved goals: the first, in the 67th minute, saw a rat-a-tat exchange end with Belletti setting Anelka clear, only for Green to save bravely at his feet; the second, moments later, had Malouda tee up Ashley Cole, on for Bosingwa. The England defender’s angled, rising drive clipped the crossbar.

Chelsea were by now so completely in control that complacency became the biggest threat to their lead. That was the only explanation for Kalou’s brainless challenge on Herita Ilunga, who had forged into the penalty area but well away from goal.

Mike Dean duly pointed to the spot but Cech spared Kalou some awkward questions by brilliantly saving Noble’s penalty to his left. The game was as good as over.