First off it's a vertigo-inducing tour up the Caledonian Market Clock Tower. As Matt and Lisa later suggest, not being able to cope with great heights and a fear of sheer drops could be why I'm a West Ham supporter. Then it's a dash to our new lucky pub, Mabel's Tavern at Euston, to watch the game.
It's a scruffy match but the Hammers make a lively start. Rice has a goal correctly disallowed for offside in the second minute and then good work by Antonio sees Fornals have a shot deflected wide. Anderson's illness has forced Pellegrini to finally change his formation to 4-4-2 and Haller looks a lot better with Antonio as a strike partner. Who knew?
The Hammers take the lead after 37 minutes when Antonio chases another seemingly lost ball and does well to find Snodgrass. His cross is nodded back by Fornals into the path of Sebastian Haller who volleys home into the corner. He's slightly scuffed it but who cares? Seb finally remembers to smile and runs to celebrate on the touchline.
In the second half there's more West Ham pressure as Haller finds Fornals whose shot is tipped over by McCarthy. Antonio looks to have scored a second after a strong run past two defenders and a thumping shot only for VAR to disallow it for an inadvertent handball.
WE'RE WINNING AWAY!
Haller has a fine header tipped past the post by McCarthy, but is then strangely substituted by Pellegrini, who goes defensive by bringing on Sanchez. He also brings on Yarmolenko and the substitutions make the side worse, greatly testing the patience of the Vicar's Son. The Saints rally during the final 20 minutes. Ings is unlucky to hit the bar with Long missing the rebound. Ings also hits the post before the offside flag goes up and then the Saints have a goal disallowed for a not very obvious foul on Yarmolenko, much to the consternation of the Saints fan in front of us.
In added time there's a nerve-shattering moment as Martin injures himself taking a goal kick, in just the same fashion as Fabianski. Could West Ham be the only team in the world to have two 'keepers injured taking goal kicks? Martin plays on for the final minute and luckily doesn't have to make a save.
The Hammers hold on and as Antonio says several times post-match it's "massive", and probably enough to keep Pellegrini in employment. The problems haven't gone away, but Haller looked a much better player with a partner, the improving Fornals got his third assist in a row and Antonio had a storming game. More worrying is the fact that several of our better players — Antonio, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Noble — are still from the Allardyce and Bilic eras.
But we ground out three points against a poor Southampton team and that's the important thing. With a two-week breathing space WHU can now prepare for the vital Christmas games against Palace and Leicester. Irons!
No comments:
Post a Comment