Hernandez rescues point for Hammers

West Ham 1 Bournemouth 1

Hackney Wick is damp and grey on the way to Forman’s, where my pal Jackie joins me for coffee next to the smoked salmon eaters. We watch the rain ripple the River Lea rather like we’re in a Smiths video. Inside the stadium we find Michael, who’s just dined at Ken’s Café and has been talking about pandas on Radio 4, as you do, Nigel in Churchillian mode after Darkest Hour, Fraser about to re-write the great crime novel and Alison and Scott contemplating a move to Clacton. Lisa’s there with Matt, who is wearing his Ecuadorian hat and has lost his voice — much to the relief of the ref and Arthur Masuaku. He’s feeling so ill he’s not even planning to take Lisa on a romantic mini-break to Wigan.

The Hammers have a decent first 30 minutes, with Kouyate's good work and Zabaleta’s cross setting up Arnautovic, whose shot is tipped over by Begovic. There’s one great passing move down the left, Lanzini and Kouyate looks more energetic than of late and has a good game. But Slowly Bournemouth come into it with neat passing moves and from a training ground corner routine Cook shoots just wide. The Hammers fans themselves booing Wilson.

At half-time Nigel struggles to find a place to put his banana-skin, sparking a series of quips. Lanzini goes close as West Ham make a decent start to the second half. Sub Stanislas comes on. “What could possibly go wrong?” asks Nigel. Most of the action tales place in the 71^st to 73rd minutes. Not-so Junior Stanislas plays a through ball to Fraser who has drifted behind the defence. Adrian comes out but then hesitates and back pedals slightly as Fraser smashes home. It looks like a miserable defeat in the swirling rain. But from the kick of Ogbonna plays it long, Kouyate and Hernandez win headers, Arnautovic’s shot is blocked and Hernandez flicks home the loose ball. That’s what he’s good at and it's the second game in a row where WHU have scored from the kick-off.

The Irons almost grab a second as sub Byram’s pull back evades Arnie and co, but it’s a nervous final ten minutes as Adrian has to tip away a Stanislas shot and the Cherries mount a series of attacks. Lanzini goes off with a dodgy hamstring and Cresswell goes down with cramp as the Hammers hold on for a point. It’s not a disaster; under Bilic you feel we might have lost this and it keeps the points total ticking over, while Bournemout look a decent outfit under Eddie Howe.

So it’s off to the Refreshment Rooms with Michael, Fraser and Jackie for a pint of Blue moon with added fruit. So now it's an FA Cup tie at Wigan with an injury-ravaged squad to look forward to… and then a vital game against Palace. The unbeaten run is encouraging but WHU need to get some more bodies in before then.

PLAYER RATINGS: Adrian 5; Zabaleta 6, Ogbonna 6, Collins 6, Cresswell 6 (Byram n/a), Masuaku 5; Kouyate 6 (Rice n/a), Obiang 5, Noble 6, Lanzini 6 (Hernandez 7); Arnautovic 7.