Joe Cole criticises West Ham’s ‘criminal’ first-half defending against Chelsea as Julen Lopetegui’s side endure nightmare start to London derby

Joe Cole has hit out at West Ham’s ‘criminal’ defence after they conceded twice in the opening 18 minutes at home to Chelsea.

Nicolas Jackson put Chelsea ahead after just four minutes by taking advantage of the weak defence, and in the 18th minute the attacker even made it 2-0.

Cole, who played for both clubs, described West Ham’s defensive work as “very, very poor” and was particularly critical of Konstantinos Mavropanos and Edson Alvarez.

Cole said in an interview with TNT Sports: ‘West Ham were very, very bad. The manager did the wrong thing. When you have Mavropanos and Alvarez running back into your own goal three or four times, something is wrong.’

Cole also criticised Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s positioning.

Joe Cole criticised West Ham for their ‘criminal’ defending against Chelsea

Cole criticised Konstantinos Mavropanos as West Ham struggled defensively

Cole, who played for both clubs, described West Ham’s defensive work as ‘very, very poor’

‘Fantastic from Jackson. The first ten minutes of the derby, three players not concentrating, that’s criminal. Wan-Bissaka, you have to retreat. Alvarez, that’s exactly where you don’t want to be as a midfielder, chasing someone who is faster than you.

‘From a Chelsea perspective it’s excellent finishing from Jackson. So often, especially in the first 20 minutes, West Ham’s pressing was all over the place. Wan-Bissaka is pushing up the midfield. West Ham are in a footrace and they’ve lost it.’

There was more misery for West Ham after the break as Cole Palmer made it 3-0 against Chelsea.

West Ham went into this match with just one win from their opening four Premier League games of the season.