Hammers Cut Blades Down to Size

West Ham United may not have played at Bramall Lane too many times before but on Sunday afternoon, David Moyes masterminded their first Premier League win at the ground. The 1-0 triumph also gave him his first victory in South Yorkshire, as the Hammers secured back-to-back wins for the second time this season.

Despite suffering an injury in the second-half of the success over newly-promoted Fulham last time out, Angelo Ogbonna had recovered enough to retain his place, meaning Moyes was once again able to name an unchanged side.

The visitors went into the game having slipped to thirteenth in the table and were keen to build on the success over the Cottagers but the Blades, who had only picked up one point from their eight games put their opponents under pressure in the opening stages.

As early as the third minute, visiting goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański reacted brilliantly to keep out an effort from George Baldock.

Chris Wilder’s side were beaten 4-1 at Chelsea last time out and although the Irons were finding their way into the game, the hosts showed glimpses of the attacking intent that served them so well in the previous campaign. They went close again but Fabianski came to his team’s aid once more when he prevented Oliver McBurnie’s powerful long-range drive from beating him.

On twenty seven minutes, Vladimír Coufal should have beaten goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale but the former AFC Bournemouth stopper saved well after the Czech international was on the end of a superb team move which also involved Arthur Masuaku, Sébastien Haller and Jarrod Bowen.

After Coufal had missed that opportunity, his international teammate Tomáš Souček had an even better chance to put his side in front on thirty four minutes. Ramsdale wasn’t even called upon this time, as he put his chance wide of the near post, following good work from both Haller and Pablo Fornals.

Fabianski got the better of McBurnie again just before the break, as the Pole was able to deal with his header and tip it away.

When referee Martin Atkinson blew his whistle for the break, it was still anyone’s game.

The hosts had the first chance of the second-half, as David McGoldrick tried his luck but to be fair, his effort was never going to trouble Fabianski.

With the game as tight as it was, it looked as if one goal was going to be enough to win all three points.

In recent weeks, Moyes has been hoping that Haller will be able to make more of an impact and he certainly did that here as both Bowen and Fornals brought the Frenchman into play and he smashed an unstoppable shot into the net past a helpless Ramsdale.

West Ham’s record signing was really playing well in this game and was close to adding a second just minutes later but unfortunately, he was unable to take advantage.

That being said, the visitors were desperate to add more gloss to the scoreline and had a golden chance to cement the victory on seventy three minutes. Stand-in captain Declan Rice sent an effort towards goal but it hit the crossbar.

No sooner had Ramsdale seen his woodwork rattled, Fabianski had to endure a similar fate up the other end but try as he might, McBurnie just couldn’t beat the Pole, as the striker latched onto Rhian Brewster’s perfect ball.

Whilst Moyes was content with the scoreline still in his team’s favour, he clearly would have preferred more goals so in an effort to try and add more potency to his attack, he introduced Manuel Lanzini into the action in place of Fornals.

Three minutes of stoppage time were added at the end of the match and deep into that, Moyes decided to make a second change as Bowen made way for Mark Noble.

The latest win sees the Hammers move up five places to eighth ahead of next Monday’s home clash with Aston Villa.