Momentum Continues Despite Bournemouth Draw

It may not have been the result that they desired, but at least West Ham United are now picking up points on a regular basis after they kept their second clean sheet in three Premier League it games, thanks to a goalless home draw with AFC Bournemouth in Saturday’s early evening kick-off.

Nuno Espírito Santo made a host of changes for last weekend’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Sky Bet League One outfit Burton Albion but one change was made from the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United here in their last league encounter, as Soungoutou Magassa came into the starting line-up for the suspended Freddie Potts. This meant that Adama Traoré was still waiting for his home league debut for the Irons. Jean-Clair Todibo had to settle for a place on the bench after returning from suspension, while youngsters Ezra Mayers, Oliver Scarles and Mohamadou Kanté were all involved in the matchday squad.

The Hammers started the match by earning a corner, which they almost went ahead from. Captain Jarrod Bowen delivered the set-piece into the box and Axel Disasi’s header was kept out by a combination of visiting goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović and defender Adrien Truffert.

Missing that chance didn’t deter the hosts who saw this fixture as a vital one to get three points from if they were to achieve their ultimate aim of retaining their top-flight status. They kept going and Valentín Castellanos found himself in plenty of space down the right wing and delivered a tantalising cross in the direction of Crysencio Summerville but unfortunately, the winger took the shot on with his wrong foot and it was therefore easy for the former Chelsea stopper to claim.

The Cherries are famous for finding hidden gems in the transfer market. The latest teenage sensation that they have unearthed is a Brazilian forward by the name of Rayan. He had a great chance for the visitors when he got into a good position and tested home goalkeeper Mads Hermansen but thankfully, the Dane was able to hold onto his long-range shot.

The game continued to swing from end to end with Andoni Iraola’s men enjoying much of the possession, but their opponents were creating the better chances. Castellanos might have found the net with one of two headers. The first occurred when he met a free-kick from Crysencio Summerville and the second came about as a result of another corner from Bowen.

The excitement was cranked up again heading into the break with both teams trading opportunities. Bowen sent a shot wide, while Bournemouth defender Alex Scott sent his attempt straight at Hermansen. The action ended when Marcos Senesi took the ball up the pitch but fortunately, he didn’t make the most of his effort as it was way off target.

Referee Sam Barrott brought the half to a close after one minute of stoppage time had been added with neither side able to break the deadlock.

The topsy-turvy nature of the game continued at the start of the second-half with the two sides turning the heat up on each other. Mateus Fernandes had the first chance but, he failed to test Petrović.

Rayan then collected possession inside his own half and raced past Fernandes and El Hadji Malick Diouf before hitting the post with his latest effort.

Iraola made a double change on sixty six minutes, as both Ryan Christie and David Brooks were introduced for Amine Adli and Tyler Adams. However, that elusive goal still couldn’t be found and after appearing to hurt himself, Irons’ defender Konstantinos Mavropanos blocked a shot from Brooks, before James Hill followed suit and in so doing, prevented Tomáš Souček from adding his name to the scoresheet for the second consecutive home encounter.

Castellanos then tried to beat Petrović when he met Bowen’s cross with an acrobatic attempt but unfortunately for the home faithful, he fired over the top.

It seemed that every opportunity Bowen laid on for his teammates was wasted. The same happened again when Magassa hurriedly sent the ball over Petrović’s crossbar. Whilst up the other end, Diouf did superbly as he slid in on Rayan to deny him a clear route to goal.

Espírito Santo decided not to change personnel for his team until beyond the seventy minute mark. His first alteration saw Callum Wilson enter the fray for Souček. In the reverse fixture back on November 22, Wilson proved pivotal for West Ham against his former employers so, was he able to do likewise here in the time that remained?

Well, it didn’t take him long to make an impact. Even though he failed to score, he did force Petrović into a diving save though, before wasting his second opportunity as he missed the target.

With six minutes of normal time left to play, the Hammers’ Head-Coach made a second substitution, as Kanté took the place of Magassa.

Summerville was involved in the last two chances of the game. He had a shot which was deflected onto the roof of the net and shortly after six minutes of stoppage time were signalled, he played in Bowen, but the skipper missed the chance to seal the three points.

Although they didn’t manage to pick up the win they wanted, one point here will not be seen as the end of the world for West Ham. Having said that though, they now have to deal with going to a place where it has to be said, has not been kind to them over the years, as they are on the road on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Anfield.