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There are few clubs in world football that would ever consider dropping Petr Cech to the bench.
Just three days after claiming his 12th winners' medal at Chelsea with the club's Capital One Cup success over Tottenham, Cech found himself back in the familiar position of sitting on the sidelines at Upton Park.
It is not a reflection on his capabilities, Cech is playing as well as he's done in a Chelsea shirt for the past 11 years.
However, in Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea have a keeper 10 years his junior and is just as good, if not better.
When Chelsea recalled Courtois from his three-year loan spell at Atletico Madrid last summer, it was on the proviso he would be the new No1.
It is nights like this where the Belgium international shows just why manager Jose Mourinho has so much faith in him for the present and the future.
In a thrilling District Line derby, Chelsea had Courtois to thank for a number of fine saves to secure all three points.
Make no mistake, he had to swallow his own disappointment at Wembley when he found out Cech was being given the opportunity to grace the national stadium one more time before his expected transfer in the summer.
West Ham v Chelsea - player ratings
To miss out on a first major final with Chelsea must have been hard to take, even though his respect for Cech is obvious and he would not have caused a fuss.
Mourinho made it clear before kick off that Courtois will now be an ever present in the Premier League and Champions League from now on.
Such backing is understandable when you see your keeper make save after save, with Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate left frustrated on several occasions.
The one time he made an error by spilling Enner Valenicia's shot, Gary Cahill was on hand to clear the ball to safety before the West Ham man could convert the rebound.
Not that West Ham's goal didn't lead a charmed life either. A combination of woeful finishing, the woodwork and agility of Courtois' counterpart Adrian kept the visitors down to just Eden Hazard's first half header.
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When your luck is down, as it is for West Ham boss Sam Allardyce at the moment following a run of one League win in 11, then you somehow lose games like this when their display merited a draw at least.
Chelsea won't have much sympathy though. They remain five points clear of closest title challengers Manchester City and they may come to look back on this game, and Courtois' heroics, as a key victory on the way to lifting the trophy in May.
