More defensive howlers cost Hammers

West Brom 4 West Ham 2

Another shocker at the Hawthorns as we become the first team since the dawn of time to concede four to a Tony Pulis side. More comment to come after the application of smelling salts…

Having watched Match of the Day, we conceded four terrible goals. The penalty was a crazy hand ball from Masuaku and for the second Ogbonna should have hit row Z, while Kouyate and Collins didn't get tight enough on their men. Masuaku lost his man for the third and the fourth was ridiculous with ten men up for a corner allowing an easy breakaway. At least we showed a little spirit to pull back two goals and Payet hit the angle with a brilliant free kick, while Collins also went close. But it was very worrying defensively. If we play like this we'll be in a relegation fight.

We shouldn't be losing games where we have 71 per cent possession and 23 shots (though only five on target). Antonio is the joint top scorer in the Premier League but it's all undone by our defensive woes and lack of protection in midfield. Noble was hauled off at half-time and Kouyate hasn't matched last season's standards. Surely Obiang deserves a game in front of the back four? Byram and Reid missed the game, apparently with knocks. Nortdveit doesn't look the answer at right back and we still badly miss Aaron Cresswell. Winston Reid will surely come back in and Arbeloa, Oxford and Randolph might also be in contention after the last two weeks. We have to find a way of stopping the goals against us and no-one should be undroppable.

The pain of Baines

West Ham 2 Everton 3

In Ken’s Café Nigel is dispensing Independent articles about David James’ spell in Iceland and wondering, “if he can afjord it”. Matt’s brother Adam is over from Australia with his daughter Rhianna for a feast of strikerless football. Big Joe arrives from Shropshire, DC and the wee man make a fleeting appearance as the café empties and Carol says she’s looking forward to putting her feet up and watching Masterchef. Meanwhile Michael the Whovian is in Warsaw watching a classical music concert, as you do.

Matt and his brother arrive early in the ground to sample the pies, which at £3.50 are the same price as the programme, “and about as nutritious”.

We play well in the first half. Everton’s only effort on target is a fine snap shot from Mirallas that Jussi tips away. Maiga still looks lightweight and short of confidence, but Mark Noble has a great half, Morrison shows tidy feet, Diame is busy on the right and Jarvis causes problems. It’s a much better performance than against Stoke and we look up for it.

West Ham take the lead on 31 minutes when Jarvis makes a good run inside on the left, eventually finding Morrison who shoots in after a heavy deflection off Jagielka. We pressure Everton’s midfield and have the better of the half. The defence plays with great spirit, epitomised by a tremendous recovery and saving tackle from O’Brien.

LUCKY ANISEED BALLS

There are reports of poor microphone technique from Jeremy Nicholas’s replacement when he interviews Dean Ashton a half-time, but no other worries apart from the fact that CQ has forgotten her lucky aniseed balls (though does dispense healthy bananas) and Matt is wearing his lucky Dukla Prague away shirt, the one that bought us such good fortune in the Avram Grant season.

It all changes in the second half as Martinez brings on McCarthy and Lukaku for Everton. Lukaku causes problems from the start as Everton dominate and the ball fizzes around our box and Reid makes a great tackle to cover for a Collins error.

Collins brings down Barkley on the edge of the box, in a similar position to that from where Pennant scored for Stoke. Leyton Baines duly fires a world-class free kick into the top corner before running to the Scousers in the away section.

MARK NOBLE WOOAH!

Allardyce reacts by bringing on Petric for Maiga and he immediately does more than Maiga in the whole game, nearly causing a chance with his closing down and then winning the ball back when it seems to be going off for a goal kick, finding Nolan who is bought down. Penalty! Mark Noble fires home. Suddenly it feels like we’re going to gain a spirited win. CQ updates Michael by text and he’ll be dancing the streets of Warsaw.

“From Stamford Bridge to Upton Park, Stick your blue flag up your arse!” roars the Bobby Moore Stand. Matt has to explain to his niece Rhianna that it is in fact, “stick your blue flag up your vase”.

Only then Noble brings down Barkley on the edge of the box and having already been booked for an earlier pull he’s off after 83 minutes. Still, it’s not as if Baines will pull out another world-class finish. Ah, he does, pinging it in off the other post this time.

2-1 UP 3-2 DOWN

“At least we’re the only team in Europe not to concede a goal from open play this season,” remarks Mystic Matt. Down to ten men we have to respect the point, but Big Sam has replaced Jarvis, our main outlet with Vaz Te, and two minutes later Lukaku finds Mirallas on the right of the box and sprints for the return, bravely heading home and getting clattered by O’Brien in the process. There goers the European record. I find myself swearing in front of minors, though it’s enough to test the patience of two Vicar’s Sons.

At least Morrison still wants the ball when we’re 3-2 down and looks like he’ll be quite a player. But with ten men it’s too much to claw back the game and we slump to another defeat. Though you have to say the performance was much better and if we can keep Petric in the side and not suffer any more stupendous free kicks, we might surely pick up some points. Everton look a good side and have traded well with the signings of Lukaku, Barry and McCarthy. 

The Vicars’ Sons leave for autographs so it’s just Fraser and myself marching to the Black Lion where we respect the pints of Doombar and Broadside. We can at least reflect on a great game after the Southampton tedium. Though if only we’d managed to get Lukaku on loan our season might be looking much more hopeful.

PLAYER RATINGS: Jaaskelainen 7, O’Brien 7, Rat 6, Reid 8, Collins 7, Nolan 6, Diame 6, Noble 8, Morrison 8, Jarvis 7, Maiga 4.