Championship Victory Still Eludes Hammers

West Ham United progressed to the third-round of the Carabao Cup after comprehensively beating fellow Sky Bet Championship side Southampton 4-1 at St Mary’s on Tuesday night, but that first league win still eludes them, following a 1-1 draw against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

Nuno Espírito Santo made three changes to the side that were beaten 2-1 by Charlton Athletic last weekend, as Joël Veltman made his first league start for the club in place of Konstantinos Mavropanos, who was left out of the matchday squad completely, while Airidas Golambeckis and Divine Mukasa kept their places in the starting line-up, as they were preferred to Joël Piroe and Oliver Scarles who both dropped to the bench. Alphonse Areola was still suffering with the calf problem that kept him out of action on Tuesday, meaning that Finlay Herrick again filled in. Joshua Ajala, Ezra Mayers, Keiber Lamadrid and Pablo Felipe were all amongst the substitutes.

Both teams had contrasting cup results in the week and to be fair, their league form has gone the same way. The home side remain unbeaten under new Head-Coach Alessio Dionisi, whereas the visitors are yet to claim a league victory.

After just under two months without rain, unfortunately for the players here, there was some in the forecast, thus making very difficult to get a grip on the game. Having said that, it did mean that the ball was zipping across the wet surface.

Both teams had chances in the opening stages without really dominating. Visiting captain Jarrod Bowen had a chance but unfortunately, Mattie Pollock was in the right place to block.

Up the other end, the Hammers were able to breathe a sigh of relief when Amin Nabizada didn’t even worry Irons’ stopper Mads Hermansen with his effort, as it went wide.

West Ham had started attacking but, Dionisi’s side caught them on the break and gained possession. Luca Kjerrumgaard crossed but Hermansen inadvertently presented the ball to Nabizada, whose shot hit the back of the net via Veltman’s deflection.

The travelling support then had Hermansen, Veltman and Kyle Walker-Peters to thank for keeping them in the game, as shots were blocked.

The visitors started to apply pressure having survived a few dangerous moments. Walker-Peters and Manor Solomon combined to set up Mohamadou Kanté but unfortunately, the chance was gone when he sent his curling effort wide.

The Irons got an equaliser with twenty seven minutes gone when Valentín Castellanos forced an error out of Hornets’ defender Kévin Keben and a deflection off the defender took the ball past Federico Ravaglia.

By this point, West Ham were on the front-foot but unfortunately, Keben was in the way of everything that they could throw the home side. Dionisi team had the final opportunity before referee Robert Madley blew the whistle for half-time. Former AFC Bournemouth defender Jordan Zemura tried his luck but fortunately, Bowen thwarted him as he made a timely challenge.

There were no changes from Espírito Santo during the break but they did change to a more pressing style as they tried to edge themselves in front. Bowen, Arne Engels and Solomon all went close but unfortunately, they weren’t able to get their names on the scoresheet.

There were chances at either end, although West Ham had more possession by this point.

The East Londoners made a double substitution on sixty five minutes as Lewis Orford and Piroe entered the fray for Kanté and Mukasa.

The home side were trying to engineer a way back into the game but thankfully though, Espírito Santo’s men held firm. The same could be said of the hosts when Piroe and Orford tried their luck but the game was heading for a draw.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Orford set up Solomon but, before the Israeli could get his foot to the ball, Pollock blocked the effort.

Three minutes of stoppage time were added and with almost the last kick of the game Engels could have played a part in a potential winner to send the visitors home in joyous mood. However, when he sent the corner over, Max Kilman was unable to add to his first goal for the club against Burnley, less than three weeks earlier.

There is a full midweek fixture programme starting on Tuesday where the East Londoners face arguably their toughest test yet when they come up against Espírito Santo’s former club as Wolverhampton Wanderers in Stratford.

Before then though, Tuesday is transfer deadline day and prior to the window closing at 11pm, there will be speculation that players will be going in different directions. As always supporters can read the latest news as soon as it is confirmed.