Irons Leave It Late To Scorch Burnley
The majority of West Ham United fans tend to tread very carefully when speaking about winning games they should win after producing “statement” performances. However, on Saturday afternoon, they did manage to follow up their victory over Newcastle United with another home triumph against newly-promoted Burnley. Just as they did against the Magpies last time out, they came from behind to beat Scott Parker’s Clarets 3-2.
The only change that Nuno Espírito Santo made to this matchday squad from the one that he named to take on Eddie Howe‘s men six days earlier was the inclusion of youngster Airidas Golambeckis, who swapped places with his Development Squad teammate Ezra Mayers. Jarrod Bowen retained his place and made his 250th appearance for the club.
Former Hammer Josh Cullen was in the starting line-up for the visitors, as he featured against the club where he started his career for the third time since leaving for Belgian outfit RSC Anderlecht and he was given the captaincy.
The Hammers usually have a good record when it comes to facing Premier League newcomers but having already lost to both Sunderland and Leeds United this season, they were determined not to make it a hat-trick.
The match started slowly and It was clear to see that the visitors had certainly changed style from a free-flowing attacking one in the days of Vincent Kompany, to a more pragmatic one under Parker. They are now harder to break down and that was evident here.
The two sides were not giving an inch in the opening stages, making it a difficult watch.
Another factor that Espírito Santo’s men wanted to avoid was conceding the first goal. Unfortunately, they were unable to achieve it, as a great team move ended with former Millwall player Zian Flemming beating Max Kilman in the air and heading past home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola with thirty five minutes gone.
The home faithful were probably sensing that they would be on the wrong side of a result again.
However, they needn’t have worried, as a response arrived within eight minutes. A corner was given to the hosts which resulted in good combination play from Crysencio Summerville and Freddie Potts. Summerville’s subsequent shot was converted by Callum Wilson just a minute before the break after taking a deflection off defender Maxime Estève. It would be fair to say that the striker has a good record against Burnley too!!!
West Ham may have gone in front earlier but headers from both Wilson and Jean-Clair Todibo were intercepted by the visiting backline.
Whilst it would have been good to be in front when referee Michael Salisbury blew the half-time whistle, I think the home fans would have taken being on level terms.
The patient nature of the game continued into the second-half, with both sides showing their defensive resilience.
Potts appeared to have injured his hamstring so on sixty two minutes, the Hammers Head-Coach made his first change, as Tomáš Souček replaced Potts.
Further substitutions were made by both Espírito Santo and Parker. The Portuguese sent on Soungoutou Magassa for Wilson, while the former Hammers midfielder introduced both Hannibal Mejbri and Armando Broja to take the places of Lesley Ugochukwu and Flemming.
Souček’s introduction made West Ham raise their intensity levels. Summerville went through on goal but unfortunately, he only found the side netting with his effort.
With thirteen minutes of normal time still to play, Souček beat compatriot Martin Dúbravka after Hammers’ captain Jarrod Bowen had his effort saved by the visiting goalkeeper.
Just four minutes after the Head-Coach had brought on both Igor Julio and Kyle Walker Peters in place of Lucas Paquetá and Summerville,
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton defender had made sure of back-to-back home wins for his team, as he netted his first goal for the club with just three minutes of the ninety remaining.
Burnley won their last encounter on the road with a last-minute goal to secure all three points against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Thankfully, there wasn’t enough time to do the same here, but they were able to capitalise on an error by Areola when Cullen picked up the pieces and beat the Frenchman.
After claiming a second consecutive result in Stratford, the East Londoners would rather keep their momentum going but unfortunately for them, domestic matches have to be put aside until November 22 when they are on the road at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.