Chelsea vs West Ham as it happened: Diego Costa strikes late to rescue three points on Antonio Conte bow

Relive the action from Antonio Conte's debut as Chelsea manager in the capital

Eden Hazard is congratulated by his team-mates (Getty)

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and West Ham United. Antonio Conte makes his debut at Stamford Bridge in front of an expectant crowd who will demand they challenge for the title this season.

• Chelsea vs West Ham United - FT
• Antonio Conte warns Diego Costa he must improve
• Leicester City blueprint impresses Antonio Conte
• 'Jose Mourinho knows United are bigger than Chelsea'

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Antonio Conte has told Diego Costa that he still has plenty of room for improvement, as Chelsea prepare to start their season with him up front. Chelsea have spent all summer trying to buy Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku but have not managed to conclude deals for either.

Costa had hoped to return to Atletico Madrid this summer, but could not with no replacement coming in. This means that Costa will lead the line for Chelsea against West Ham United this evening. Conte is determined to make the most of this situation, and has been pushing Costa especially hard in pre-season to get him up to peak fitness.

But Conte knows that Costa still has a long way to go, and told the Brazilian striker that he must work hard in training and, just as importantly, on the pitch for the team.

“Diego Costa is a great player and I know that he is a fantastic finisher,” said Conte in his press conference at Cobham on Friday afternoon. “I think that Diego can improve still a lot. Now he is a fantastic player, but he can improve a lot. I hope for this.” Conte is a coach with a very clear sense of what he wants from his players, especially in terms of physical fitness.

That is why he has changed the Chelsea players’ diet, as well as working them so hard in training. While he would not set Costa a target in terms of goals for this season, Conte demanded that all of his players give everything for his cause.

[15 August 2016 20:07 · Samuel Stevens]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of West Ham United's trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Antonio Conte's opening match in charge. The team news is in and it makes interesting reading. 

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, JT (c), Azpi; Kante; Willian, Matic, Oscar, Hazard; Costa.

West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Collins, Masuaku, Nordtveit, Ayew, Noble, Kouyate, Valencia, Carroll.

[15 August 2016 20:08 · Samuel Stevens]

0 mins: Here come the teams in West London. Antonio Conte's appointment has given the Chelsea players a shot in the arm this summer after their awful 10th place finish last season. N'Golo Kante starts for the Blues while record West Ham signing Andre Ayew is up front for Slaven Bilic's men.

[15 August 2016 20:09 · Samuel Stevens]

3 mins: Almost immediately, N'Golo Kante is booked for a late challenge on Andy Carroll and now the Frenchman will be on eggshells for the rest of the night. The former Leicester City midfielder's usual brand of industrious tackling may have to be curtailed for the rest of the match now.

[15 August 2016 20:12 · Samuel Stevens]

9 mins: It's been scrappy thus far at the Bridge. Chelsea have shown a willingness to get stuck into challenges, leading to N'Golo Kante going in the book, but West Ham are a threat on the break. Andy Carroll already causing problems at the back.

[15 August 2016 21:36 · Samuel Stevens]

GOOAALL!! Chelsea 1 West Ham 1 - James Collins

76 mins: 'There's only one Ginger Pele,' chant the West Ham fans as James Collins smashes them level at the Bridge. Dimitri Payet's corner causes chaos in the Chelsea area until it eventually falls to Collins - who hit it on the half-volley to stun the home crowd into silence. Could they now take all three points?