Relief For Irons As Derby Ends All Square

In Millwall’s fixture at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, they were seemingly set to take all three points back to London with them having held a two-goal advantage. However, in the second-half, they let that slip, meaning they only came away from The Riverside Stadium with a point.

When West Ham United turned up at The New Den for Saturday’s early kick-off, Alex Neil’s side again had the luxury of being in front, but their bitter rivals eventually showed the form that has left them in the automatic promotion places going into the first international break of the season after a stunning comeback meant the contest ended all square.

Nuno Espírito Santo restored Mads Hermansen, Joël Piroe, Manor Solomon and Valentín Castellanos to his starting line-up as four changes were made from the team that narrowly lost 3-2 at home to Premier League outfit Fulham to bring an end to their participation in this year’s Carabao Cup. Kyle Walker-Peters retained his place from the encounter against the Cottagers though, as he continued to fill in for the injured Joël Veltman.

Finlay Herrick, Pablo Felipe and Mohamadou Kanté dropped to the bench, while Oliver Scarles, Airidas Golambeckis, Lewis Orford and Joshua Ajala were also included in the matchday squad.

The fact that Espírito Santo and his squad arrived later than planned to the ground might have explained their slow start. Having said that though, the home side were determined to make amends for the result on Teeside.

As you might imagine, the visitors were greeted by a hostile atmosphere before the action got underway. The Lions started like they have done earlier this week and put their opponents under intense pressure. Not only that, but challenges started flying in from the off, as Jensen Metcalfe went in late on visiting captain Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham have been put under pressure at various times already this season but, this was just relentless and everything that they were trying wasn’t coming off. Encouraged by the majority inside the stadium, the Lions were in no mood to let the tempo subside, as Metcalfe again tried his luck, while Taïryk Arconte and Derek Mazou-Sacko all went close but thankfully, there was no way through.

It was all going in favour of the home side by this point and Konstantinos Mavropanos was off the pitch for treatment on a head injury when the hosts were awarded a throw-in. Scotsman Lyndon Dykes was aiming to get some distance on his delivery into the box. He achieved this, but Hermansen then prevented the ball from beating him twice, before it was finally lashed into the net by Caleb Taylor.

Well, Neil’s side had got one and they were keen to see if they could add to it. They continued to dictate play, as Zak Sturge headed wide, before skipper Jake Cooper gave the Dane a test but to be fair, the defender’s effort was no trouble for him. The volume went up a notch when the Lions started to move forward but fortunately, their fun came to an abrupt end, as Arconte was thwarted by a block.

Castellanos provided a little moment of respite for the Irons but in truth, he didn’t make the most of the opportunity and instead sent it wide.

The Hammers were then in the way of another Millwall attempt, as Metcalfe was proving to be a real threat.

The hosts were pushing for another goal and they almost found it just before the break. Mark Sykes was a long way out but went for the spectacular nevertheless. Thankfully, his effort hit the crossbar. Had it gone in though, It would have been an early contender for Goal of the Season.

Only being one goal behind would have been a good outcome for West Ham before the break but late into the half, the scoreline got worse for the visitors before the teams left the pitch. Another long throw caused panic in the visiting defence and Camiel Neghli was on hand to pick up the pieces and beat Hermansen from six-yards out.

Tierney brought an end to the first-half and this was not what the large travelling support were expecting and far from the performance they had put in eight days earlier.

In a post-match interview for West Ham TV, Solomon stated that the Head-Coach didn’t discuss the opening period and instead turned the focus to how they could rectify matters. Well whatever it was that the Portuguese said to his players, it worked, as it proved to be much more like how a derby should be after the break.

The words were followed by a double change, as Kanté and Felipe entered the fray to see if they could have the desired effect.

The changes seemed to make a difference as the tempo was raised and a two-sided game was now in evidence. but the Lions were desperate to keep their advantage intact.

Neil chose to select Filip Marschall in goal ahead of Max Crocombe and although he was a virtual bystander for the entirety of the first forty five minutes, he saw much more action after the break, as Espírito Santo’s side were looking for a way back into the game. Divine Mukasa and Bowen went close, while Kanté reacted quickest but couldn’t force the follow-up past the former Stevenage stopper. Arne Engels then tried his luck but even he couldn’t find a way through.

After another attempt from Mukasa went wide, Felipe was keen to get a first league goal for the club after scoring in the defeat to Álvaro Arbeloa’s men and he almost did when he met the skipper’s cross with a powerful header. Unfortunately though, Marschall produced a save to match the move and expertly tipped it over the top.

West Ham made their third substitution on sixty eight minutes, as Edvin Austbø came on in place of Mukasa.

The visitors had been pushing for a goal in the second-half and their pressure paid off with sixteen minutes of normal time left when Kanté helped himself to his second league goal in as many matches to send the away end into delirium!!!

Although Millwall continued to play well since the break, the Hammers seemed to have that extra spring in their step. Momentum was now firmly with them after pulling a goal back and they went close on two occasions to finding an equaliser. Both Bowen and Austbø went close but neither effort found its way into the net. The skipper’s effort was deflected into the side netting, while the Norwegian winger was expertly denied by Marschall.

Opportunities kept coming for the visitors, as Bowen and Kanté tried their luck again but the skipper saw his latest attempt blocked, while the young Frenchman saw his long-range shot deflect over the crossbar.

With ten minutes of normal time to play, West Ham ventured forward after a corner was taken short. Solomon then motored to the byline and sent a cross into the area. Mavropanos scored against Wrexham in their last league outing and whilst that was welcomed, this one was very much appreciated as they had claimed something from a match where, for much of it, it didn’t look like it was going to be their day. The defender showed how much the goal meant to him as he celebrated with the packed away end.

That wasn’t the end of the drama though, as Espírito Santo then lost the man who opened the scoring for his side, as Kanté received a straight red card. Neil had earlier introduced both Kyrell Lisbie and Mathis Servais for both Metcalfe and Arconte. Lisbie then pounced on Kanté’s mistake and raced towards goal.

The youngster eventually caught up with him. However, the unfortunate thing for Kanté was that he had a handful of Lisbie’s shirt as he tried to atone for his error. Tierney had no other option but to brandish the card and he will now miss the next three games.

Five minutes of stoppage time were signalled and the hosts could have found the winner but fortunately, Dykes wasted the chance by firing over.

Both Neil and Espírito Santo then made use of a fourth substitution. Mazou-Sacko made way for Luke Cundle as far as the home side were concerned, while the Irons sent on Lewis Orford for Castellanos.

West Ham play the first Sky Bet Championship match after the extended international break and it is sure to be another emotional night in Stratford, as full tributes are to be paid to their former goalkeeper Luděk Mikloško when they play a second consecutive London derby, as Queens Park Rangers provide the opposition on Friday 9th October.