Hammers slump at Burnley

Burnley 2 West Ham 0

Meet the new West Ham — same as the old West Ham. A trip to Lancashire proved a game too far for the injury-hit Hammers with a desperate Burnley out-fighting the Irons and achieving a deserved win with goals from Wood and McNeil. It could have been more for the home side and the only bright moment for the Hammers was an Andy Carroll header that Heaton (replacing the dropped Joe Hart) tipped on to the bar. Clearly that fine win at Southampton took a lot out of the players, while Burnley had had an extra day to recover since losing 5-1 at home to Everton.

Marko Arnautovic returned after a month out but is going to need games to regain his sharpness, while Anderson still struggles with the English fixture overload. This was a game where we missed the steadying influence of Zabaleta and Balbuena at the back, though at least we got to see a bit of Silva as a sub.

Not the end to the year we wanted and the chance to go seventh has been lost. But overall five wins out of seven is a good run. This was a very bad day at the office with the side looking jaded. Now it's time for one more big push against Brighton in three days time and then ten days break, bar the FA Cup tie with Birmingham, before the next league match. By then some injured players might have returned and some signings been made.

Rice cracker

Great news that Declan Rice has finally signed a new West Ham contract that will keep him at the club until 2024. Pellegrini can now build a team around Declan and Felipe Anderson. It's hard to believe that the 19-year-old has only played 50 games. You can see why Gareth Southgate wants to poach Deckers for England as he already looks like he could be more effective as a holding midfielder than Dier and Henderson.Though he's still undecided on whether he's English or Irish, of course, and a visit from Roy Keane might change anyone's mind. What's clear is that if Rice keeps working hard he will have a great future. It will be interesting to see whether he ends up as a centre back or midfielder, but wherever he plays he has the potential to be a West Ham great.

Anderson double secures great win at Saints

Southampton 1 West Ham 2

We're away going wild in the country at my brother-in-law's gaff in deepest Hertfordshire for this one, forced to watch Torvill and Dean in a Sky-less zone. But what a great result. Injury-ravaged West Ham sides just don't get results at relegation threatened clubs like Southampton when they are experiencing new manager bounce. But Felipe Anderson is making all the difference.

The goal-hungry Robert Snodgrass had a couple of good efforts in the first half and Perez mishit a great chance presented by a Cresswell pull-back in the first half. But the Saints took the lead after the break as the Hammers failed to clear their lines and Antonio didn't push up to catch them offside. Fabianski made a brave save only to see Redmond scramble home a scruffy goal.

Cue the usual defeat at St Mary's? No, three minutes later a header reaches Anderson on the edge of the box is walloped home into the bottom corner by Anderson — a great effort with no backlift. 

Fabianski has to make a great save to deny Armstrong at 1-1, but it's the Hammers who get the second from a Southampton corner. Diop clears and Antonio breaks, he looks up and plays Anderson in with a great through ball. The Brazilian wallops it into the top corner and runs to the away fans. If you want a clue to how we're playing under Pellegrini then it's worth noting that Diop had also run the length of the field as the Hammers broke to score.

There's still time for Fabianski to produce another sensational low stop to deny Lemina, Perez to be denied by a last-ditch block and Anderson to twice go close to completing his hat-trick.

Rice had a great game say the fans who were there and let's credit the squad players who came in too, the likes of Antonio, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Obiang, Diangana, Carroll and Perez. But it's one man who is turning WHU into a top-half side and that's Felipe. Five wins out of six. Now let's continue the run at struggling Burnley. Irons!

Hornets end Hammers good run

West Ham 0 Watford 2

First off it's a nostalgic rendezvous at Ken's Cafe in Green Street with Michael (in a West Ham Christmas jumper and laden down with Bernard Cribbins autobiographies from the Newham Bookshop) Matt, Lisa and Nigel. Ken's still frying strong at 83, while Carol is supervising the till with her usual redoubtable charm — though strangely no ticket is required for my order of eggs chips and beans and a strong tea. Seeing the Boleyn Ground is a sad sight — just grey blocks of flats that look like every other development in London.

The bus to Stratford takes a long time due to the Christmas shoppers and although we arrive at the London Stadium at 2.50 disaster strikes — the programmes have sold out. It's a terrible omen and we wonder of the game will actually count without a programme. Things can only get worse.

The game starts off as fairly evenly contested. The tricky Deulefou and Pereyra threaten for Watford while only a smart block robs Hernandez and Antonio stings Foster's hands with a long range effort. The game turns when Balbuena brings down Pereyra after a smart interchange of passes. Fabian injures himself in the process and Deeney wallops home the penalty before kicking over a corner flag. Scott behind us is berated for saying a few minutes previously that "Deeney hadn't scored for ages".

Matt would prefer the late James Mason to Lee Mason in charge. The ref turns down a good penalty appeal in favour of a free kick on the edge of the box and then paces out a mere seven yards for the Watford wall. The Irons almost equalise as Antonio heads down to Chicharito, whose smart volley is turned round the post by Foster.

OH ANTONIO…
The Hammers show their spirit in the second half, doing everything but score. Antonio heads against the post from a Snoddy corner. Noble is replaced by Carroll after 56 minutes and it leaves the Hammers short defensively. Fabianski has to make a brilliant save from Doucoure and then Deeney fires straight at the keeper. But in turn Anderson, having a quiet game, finds Chicharito who scuffs a presentable chance. The Mexican striker is then denied again by another last-ditch tackle before being subbed. 

There's a great moment when the crowd count out the paces as Lee Mason pushes the Watford wall back. The key moment comes when after good work by Diangana, Snodgrass's header is superbly saved by Foster and Antonio heads the rebound on to the bar when he should have scored. 

There's still time for Foster to make another good save from Carroll's downward header. With Three minutes left Watford break and score a second as a one-two sees Deulefou find the bottom corner as Diop is bypassed and Masuaka fails to mount a serious challenge.

World Cup and Doctor Who make the wall of Ken's

So our run of wins is over. Watford look much better than the other teams we've played recently, although the Hammers surely did enough to earn a point. Now we need points from two awkward away games over the festive period.

As we trek back to Stratford Fraser bemoans the fact that you can't take anyone from behind nowadays without getting penalised. The King Edward is playing cacophonous music so we retreat to the Refreshment Rooms to meet Gavin and Ilona. 

The only good news comes in a text from Matt, who is on a London Transport Museum vintage bus ride round the West End Christmas lights and has met a West Ham fan in the lift at Covent Garden who has given him two free programmes. The mysterious 'fan' is surely his guardian angel, appearing in the style of Clarence in It's A Wonderful Life.

Still, four wins out of five isn't bad. Merry Christmas everyone and a claret and blue New Year.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Zabaleta 6, Diop 5, Balbuena 5 (Ogbonna 6), Masuaku 6; Anderson 5, Noble 6 (Carroll 6), Rice 7, Snodgrass 7; Hernandez 6 (Diangana 6), Antonio 6. 

Mark Noble on the dog and bone

"ULLO!" Just had a call from Mark Noble. Not quite sure about Nobes' telephone sales manner. Think of the "Ullo!" that kicks off Ian Hunter's Once Bitten Twice Shy. At first I thought it might be Doug or Dinsdale Piranha enquiring about repayment of that payday loan. But no, it's a recorded message from Nobes telling me that the London Stadium now has an increased capacity and that half-season tickets are available. Just hope he's getting paid the living wage for his new role in telesales.

We're West Ham United we win every week!

Fulham 0 West Ham United 2

It's an absolutely sodden Fulham Palace Road as I meet my old mate Tim and his son Jamie, who have blagged some tickets in the strange 'neutral' section at Fulham that is now full of WHU fans. There's six inches of water as we step through the turnstile. At least the rear of the Putney End is covered and relatively dry as I huddle down in my Gore-Tex and fleece on a freezing and sodden evening. Still, it's nice to be in an old-fashioned ground surrounded by houses. Fulham's screen lis so small you'd think Karren Brady probably has a bigger TV in her office.

As the game kicks off the away fans enjoy themselves with a jukebox selection of "My name is Ludek Miklosko" and "Oh Christian Dailly you are the love of my life!". Fulham have an early chance when Kamara is clear but Fabianski saves well. Anderson always looks to have the beating of Odoi and the Hammers take the lead as after a fine ball from Noble the Brazilian expertly hurdles a sliding challenge and crosses low to Snodgrass. Snoddy hits a screamer into the corner and we enjoy watching the net bulge as the rejuvenated Scotsman rushes to the jubilant away section. Two in two for Robert.

"ANTONIO… ANTONIO… ANTONIO!"
Fulham respond quite well to going a goal down as Kamara has a free header saved by Fabianski and then the keeper has to gather another low effort from Mitrovic. But they can't cope with WHU on the break. Again Anderson gets free and crosses for Chicharito to head on to the unmarked Antonio. Michail does well to take the ball down and calmly slot it through Ruiz's legs. Two-nil to the cockney boys and Javier's first assist in four years. 

Fulham's defensive plight is summed up by an Anderson nutmeg causing two defenders to run into each other and knock each other out. Antonio, playing as a striker, is also causing all sorts of problems with his ability to hold the ball up and work the channels and appears to have his speed back. 

The second half sees Fulham play some nice passing football, but only really creating a couple of melees that are cleared by Diop and Balbuena. The Hammers continue to threaten on the wings with Masuaka and Anderson on the left and Snoddy on the right, though we always seem to get the final ball slightly wrong. Rice and Zabaleta keep things tight defensively and at times it's almost showboating as the lads pass it around and look a really confident side.

WE'RE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE?
The West Ham fans enjoy the chilly win, as they sing "Pellegrini's claret and blue army!" and "Two more years two more years, Zabaleta!" There's a new song for Felipe Anderson and of course Jingle Bells. Anderson almost adds a third at the end, his effort producing a good save from Rico.

The players salute the fans at the final whistle and Declan Rice proves he's well hard in the cold by walking off bare-chested towards the Cottage after giving away his shirt. As we leave the ground there's a pleasing chorus of, "We're West Ham United we win every week!" and then, "We're gonna win the league!"

Four wins in a row is a remarkable transformation. Admittedly Nrewcastle, Cardiff, Palace ands Fulham are among the division's poorer sids, but we've lost these type of games before. And with the fans finally adding Pellegrini's name to the Claret and Blue Army chant it's almost feeling like a united club again. An enjoyable away day and worth the soaking.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Zabaleta 7, Diop 7, Balbuena 6, Masuaku 6; Anderson 8, Rice 7, Noble 6 (Obiang 6), Snodgrass 7; Hernandez 6 (Carroll 5), Antonio 7 (Diangana n/a). 

A Christmas Carroll?

Managed to blag a neutral ticket for the Fulham game today, so preparing to drink white wine once my butler has ordered it. Feeling the biting cold outside you wonder if it might be wise to start with Andy Carroll, as Perez is still doubtful. Playing in a suspect defence on a freezing evening you wouldn't fancy a big Geordie lump like Andy coming at you. Carroll won the Anderson free kick from which Hernandez scored last week and presented the Palace defence with a new problem. Their preoccupation with Andy also gave Anderson and Hernandez more space. Expect we'll see something of him today whatever formation Pellegrini opts for. Come on you Irons!