FC Astra Giurgiu 1 West Ham United 1 (Europa League)
Had to miss the live coverage of this as Her Indoors had booked us into an improving lecture at Somerset House (the perils of being a middle-class football fan). Looking at the highlights it all hinged on the 80th minute when sub Marcus Browne did really well to beat the last defender and race clear down the left, before squaring to Antonio. It looked like Antonio, restored to his rightful position in midfield, had a tap-in. But somehow he managed to stroke the ball into the side-netting. These things happen, but to compound that error a minute later Astra equalised from a corner after Alibec (who according to Matt's incendiary text is "a 20-stone pub player") managed to turn Collins and fire into the roof of the net. So what should have been a 2-0 lead became 1-1. Nobes had scored our first from the spot after Tore's corner saw a defender handball. Antonio had a header off the line and Calleri also had a decent headed chance. From the Facebook posts it wasn't a great performance but it was good to see Burke and Oxford get game time at the back and Byram in at right-back. The tie is now nicely set up for the second leg and as Bilic says, "if we can't win at home then we don't deserve to be in the Europa League."
Showing posts with label Astra away. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Astra away. Show all posts
Friday, August 19
Thursday, August 6
Out of Europe…
Astra Giurglu 2 West Ham 1 (Europa League Qualifier)
So that's the end of West Ham's European tour. We were never likely to get a result fielding a team of promising but inexperienced youngsters such as Lewis Page, Josh Cullen, Kyle Knoyle and the likes of Elliot Lee and Doneil Henry. West Ham had a fine start when Lanzini scored on his debut after three minutes, but the game turned on some shaky defending and two goals for Budescu. Bilic has firmly prioritised the Premier League which is a gamble — you wonder how much abuse Big Sam would have received had he done the same. Difficult to read too much into this as none of these players are likely to start against the Emirates and elimination might prevent a relegation struggle. But even so, I'd still rather have given it a go and selected at least some players from Payet, Kouyate, Ogbonna, Noble, Cresswell, Adrian, Amalfitano and Jarvis to give us a chance. Our best hope of success in Europe now is if Slaven enters his band in the Eurovision Song Contest…
So that's the end of West Ham's European tour. We were never likely to get a result fielding a team of promising but inexperienced youngsters such as Lewis Page, Josh Cullen, Kyle Knoyle and the likes of Elliot Lee and Doneil Henry. West Ham had a fine start when Lanzini scored on his debut after three minutes, but the game turned on some shaky defending and two goals for Budescu. Bilic has firmly prioritised the Premier League which is a gamble — you wonder how much abuse Big Sam would have received had he done the same. Difficult to read too much into this as none of these players are likely to start against the Emirates and elimination might prevent a relegation struggle. But even so, I'd still rather have given it a go and selected at least some players from Payet, Kouyate, Ogbonna, Noble, Cresswell, Adrian, Amalfitano and Jarvis to give us a chance. Our best hope of success in Europe now is if Slaven enters his band in the Eurovision Song Contest…
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