West Ham 1-0 Chelsea: 3 lessons learned by Conte after latest defeat

#2 Conte was too hasty to freeze out Diego Costa

West Ham United v Chelsea - Premier League

Following on from the first point, Diego Costa would have been the perfect player for Conte to utilise in this fixture.

The 29-year-old Spaniard, who is set to make his Atletico Madrid return next month, has the ability to single-handedly win matches - something he did regularly the last term to help drive the Blues to another Premier League triumph.

With strength, speed and determination in front of goal, he could have been a game-changer from the bench at the London Stadium. It appears as though Morata's backup options are not good enough for a team who have lofty title aspirations.

Another aspect of Costa's repertoire which Chelsea have missed in recent months, especially here, was his aggressive style. Morata and Hazard were both effectively dealt with by the hosts, who are physically stronger than the pair.

Costa would have provided a target to aim at inside the area while hassling the Hammers' backline - something that Morata struggled to do throughout.

There is no real debate that Costa is a more clinical finisher in comparison to his compatriot and Conte may potentially regret the harsh treatment he had for the no-nonsense forward.