London Derby Fails To Catch Fire

A match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur is usually a fiery encounter but Sunday afternoon’s fixture didn’t live up to its usual reputation. It ended in another draw for the home side as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Graham Potter made two changes to the side that suffered the late defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion eight days earlier, as Aaron Cresswell and Niclas Füllkrug came into the starting line-up in place of Konstantinos Mavropanos and James Ward-Prowse, who both dropped to the bench. There was also a rare appearance for Guido Rodríguez in the matchday squad.

Just like in the topsy-turvy game at The American Express Stadium last time out, the Hammers were on top in the opening stages and thought they should have been awarded a penalty when a cross from Mohammed Kudus appeared to hit the arm of visiting defender Yves Bissouma but referee Michael Oliver saw nothing wrong and let the game continue.

The home side just couldn’t cope with the high pressing approach that their fierce rivals employed and this forced them into a defensive mistake after fifteen minutes when Max Kilman inexplicably gave the ball to Mathys Tel and he crossed for Wilson Odobert to beat home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

After that setback, the hosts started to dominate proceedings and went close when Tomáš Souček tested Spurs stopper Guglielmo Vicario but he was able to collect.

Tel had a great chance to double the advantage for Ange Postecoglou’s men but fortunately for the majority inside the stadium, the Bayern Munich loanee sent a freekick into the stand behind the visitors’ goal.

Tensions were running high amongst the home faithful, as they thought that they should have been awarded another penalty with twenty minutes gone as the ball hit the arm of Ben Davies but Oliver again was unmoved.

Having seen their opponents waste that opportunity, the Irons then equalised. A great team move involving Kilman, Cresswell, Kudus and Aaron Wan-Bissaka eventually ended with captain Jarrod Bowen shooting through the legs of Vicario and placing the ball into the back of the net.

Both teams could have taken the lead into the half-time break but Richarlison’s effort never worried Areola. The former Watford and Everton man was immediately involved again but thankfully for the home faithful, he was unable to pick out Odobert.

The action was then quickly up the other end when Potter’s men have the chance to go ahead but Wan-Bissaka saw his attempt blocked by Bissouma and after two minutes of stoppage time were signalled, Oliver brought the first-half to a close.

The first opportunity worthy of note after the break was when Tel fired straight at Areola on fifty one minutes, then Souček had two shots blocked.

The momentum shifted again when Richarlison wildly snatched at a half-volley and just after the hour mark, both Bowen and Bissouma were guilty of wasting further chances.

On seventy three minutes, Lucas Paquetá was booked for a challenge on Spurs winger Mikey Moore. Oliver’s decision to brandish the yellow card appeared to bring Paquetá to tears.

Shortly after, Pape Matar Sarr tried his luck but fortunately he was way off target.

After seven more minutes, and with the Brazilian midfielder still visibly upset, Potter made four substitutions. Jean-Clair Todibo, Füllkrug and Souček were all taken off which allowed Vladimír Coufal, Evan Ferguson, Carlos Soler and Ward-Prowse to enter the fray.

West Ham went close to grabbing all three points but Vicario made a great save from Bowen’s header, after the skipper had met one of Ward-Prowse’s trademark free-kicks.

The last of the home side’s changes was introduced on eighty eight minutes, as Creswell made way for Mavropanos.

Ward-Prowse could have won it himself however, when he was presented with another dead ball situation just before time was up but he was unfortunately inches wide.

It was another frustrating day for the East Londoners, who failed to move above the North London side. It’s a trip to face another out of form side which lies in wait next Sunday afternoon and West Ham could notch up their first double of the current campaign against Manchester United at Old Trafford.