Hammers unable to Dent Carrick’s Unbeaten Start

West Ham United are unfortunately still in the relegation zone but, on the plus side, their unbeaten run continues, as they drew 1-1 with Manchester United in Stratford on Tuesday night.

Nuno Espírito Santo made one change to the team that picked up a vital win against newly-promoted Burnley at Turf Moor just three days earlier, as Freddie Potts came into the starting line-up in place of Callum Wilson, who dropped to the bench. Youngsters Ezra Mayers and Mohamadou Kanté were included in the matchday squad.

With the Red Devils showing that they are finally back in consistent form since Michael Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim last month and the Hammers keen to build on the weekend’s success over the Clarets, it was no surprise that it was a cagey first-half. It wasn’t as if the home side weren’t creating chances though, as they were close to making the breakthrough twice in four minutes. With just nine minutes gone, West Ham started a move that went from one end of the pitch to the other and involved five of their players but unfortunately, they didn’t manage to edge themselves ahead as the move ended with captain Jarrod Bowen missing the target with a header.

The hosts survived a scare as the linesman gave offside against Red Devils’ captain Bruno Fernandes but a replay gave the impression that had he beat home goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, his effort may have counted.

Bowen was involved again when he linked up well with Mateus Fernandes to set up Crysencio Summerville. The former Leeds United winger was keen on adding to his current goalscoring tally of five in as many matches but after cutting inside, he unfortunately saw his powerful shot kept out by visiting goalkeeper Senne Lammens and referee Anthony Taylor then awarded a corner.

Carrick’s side went close on twenty two minutes when they earnt their own corner. From it, Luke Shaw found space to fashion an opportunity, but his effort was fortunately cleared off the line by former teammate Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Shaw didn’t give up and was involved in another chance for the visitors just before the break. He played in Amad Diallo but fortunately for the majority inside the Stadium, he wasted his opportunity by only finding the side netting.

Unusually, Taylor blew the half-time whistle the second that the stadium clock ticked past the forty five minute mark but nevertheless, the home side must have been pleased with their performance.

The Irons had been the better side in the first period and they started the second-half by continuing to apply pressure and it finally paid off just five minutes in. Tomáš Souček managed to steer the ball into the net after evading the defence and touching the ball past Lammens.

The visitors had beaten Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur going into this game but they seemed flat up until this point and of course, Souček’s strike made them take their game up another gear. That being said, the home side continued to stand firm and Diogo Dalot had his attempt blocked by Summerville.

Just after the hour mark, the hosts were given a huge reprieve when VAR intervened and ruled out an equaliser. Youngster Kobbie Mainoo crossed into the area which left Casemiro to head past Hermansen.

The Irons needed another goal so with that in mind, Espírito Santo made his first change five minutes later by introducing Wilson to replace Valentín Castellanos, while Carrick also shuffled his pack with a double alteration, as both Benjamin Šeško and Lenny Yoro came on for Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha.

Šeško nearly made the impact that the interim Head-Coach and large travelling support were hoping for but thankfully for the loyal home fans, Hermansen kept him out. Shortly after, Bryan Mbeumo had two opportunities. The Danish stopper wasn’t worried by the striker’s first effort, as he headed wide, whilst the Cameroon international’s second attempt was crucially blocked by Souček.

Further substitutions were made by both teams going into the last ten minutes. The Irons’ Head-Coach sent on Soungoutou Magassa, Oliver Scarles, Kyle Walker Peters and new signing Adama Traoré to take the places of Potts, Diouf, Bowen and Summerville whilst Joshua Zirkzee was thrown into the fray by Carrick, as Lisandro Martinez was withdrawn.

There was still time for the East Londoners to seal all three points as the fourth official signalled that a further seven minutes would be played. Traoré could have wrapped them up but, as he shaped to shoot, Yoro had unfortunately got himself in the way. However, the Spaniard’s blushes were spared seconds later when Zirkzee missed the chance to head past Hermansen.

There was to be one final twist, as Carrick’s men preserved their unbeaten run as Mbeumo delivered an inviting cross and Šeško got in front of Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi to flick the ball into the top corner of the net.

After that disappointment, attention now turns to the fourth-round of the Emirates FA Cup where Espírito Santo’s side will be desperate to avoid a potential banana skin when they travel to The Pirelli Stadium to face Sky Bet League One outfit Burton Albion in Saturday’s early kick-off.