Anderson brace sees off Burnley in six-goal thriller

West Ham 4 Burnley 2

It’s in to the Clyde Best Café with daughter Lola, Matt, Nigel and a tardy Michael, who revives memories of Ken’s Cafe by devouring a big breakfast at 2.30pm. We move on to the London Stadium via Matt’s lucky tower block route and find that mercifully we’re back among the usual season ticket holders rather than the Herberts from the Spurs game.

West Ham absolutely dominate the first half and have the perfect start. Tarkowski dawdles and underhits a backpass, allowing Arnautovic to slide home. Arnie then appears to taunt the hapless defender as he celebrates.

We worry about the Irons not getting the second as Burnley look bereft of confidence. A nice give and go with Anderson sees Arnie shoot and the returning Joe Hart save with his legs. Anderson curls a lovely effort towards the top corner to beat Hart, only to see Mee head acrobatically off the line. The Brazilian is looking a lot sharper today and importantly he has won the crowd over by doing some tackling back. Diangana dribbles into the box and is chopped by Defour in what should be a blatant penalty, only for referee East to ignore WHU appeals. 

With twenty seconds to go till the end of the half Burnley mount their first attack. Diop loses a header and Westwood threads a pass through Balbuena and Cresswell to Gudmundsson, who slides past Fabianski. A soft goal and typical West Ham, we muse. Fraser is tempted to order another pitch invasion against Burnley.

A TIMELY FELIPE

In a desperate move, Nigel produces his lucky soggy banana at half-time. The Hammers come out for the second half looking determined to right the injustice of not being ahead. Just as Nigel is telling his lucky anecdote about being snubbed by Brian May, the Hammers advance. Arnie finds Diangana, who is scythed down after playing a clever ball to Anderson. The referee plays a good advantage and Anderson advances to slide the ball through Hart’s legs. He goes down on to his knees for a quick prayer in front of the Bobby Moore Stand. Felipe needed that.

But this being West Ham we concede again as a corner finds Wood, who powers home an old-fashioned centre forward’s header. It’s bizarre that he’s being marked by Snodgrass when surely Rice, Diop or Balbuena should be on Burnley’s giant substitute. Two-two with 13 minutes left.

ALL ABOUT MEE

Pellegrini has bravely taken off Obiang to bring on Hernandez and the attacking trio of Arnie, Diangana and Anderson threaten whenever we advance; though conversely the Irons still look brittle at the back.

Another good move between Diangana and Arnie sees Anderson curl an effort on to the outside of the post when he should score. But the little Brazilian is not to be denied. Diangana and Arnautovic combine again and Anderson pokes in a shot off Mee’s leg after 86 minutes. “I feel sorry for Joe Hart, he looks like he’s going to cry,” says a compassionate Lola. It’s proving to be a cracking game.

Bizarrely Burnley then nearly make it 3-3 as Taylor’s cross finds Wood again, who heads on to the top of the bar. In a move that would have Big Sam choking on his pint of wine, the Hammers advance rather than try to kill the game. Snodgrass’s free kick finds Anderson on the edge of the box, who volleys with the side of his foot into Hart’s hands. Very nearly the goal of the season.

Anderson is enjoying himself now and plays a sweeping crossball to sub Antonio. Michail chests it down we into the path of Hernandez, who expertly dinks it over Hart and into the net to spark wild celebrations.

There’s an excited hubbub as we leave the London Stadium, and it’s been almost like the Ron Greenwood days of having a rubbish defence but still outscoring the opposition. It’s been an exhausting but exhilarating game, though we have to tighten up defensively. 

But it’s the big game we needed from Anderson and it’s a happy Hammer who leaves for a dinner party with DC, the ghost of Ken’s Café past. An important win, and it seems WHU fans are setting off fireworks all over London. Huddersfield up next and another chance to move up the league. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Zabaleta 6, Diop 5, Balbuena 5, Cresswell 5; Obiang 6 (Hernandez 7), Rice 6, Snodgrass 7; Anderson 9, Arnautovic 8 (Ogbonna n/a), Diangana 8 (Antonio 6).