Green Street Hammers
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West Ham match review: 5 Talking points from West Brom clash

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Andy Carroll of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at London Stadium on January 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Andy Carroll of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at London Stadium on January 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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West Ham got three vital points against West Brom thanks to two Andy Carroll goals. But there are more talking points to take from the match.

When you’re down in the bottom three, 3 points is 3 points. Especially if those three points come against a relegation rival. And you’re going to be even happier when you get the winner in the last minute. So this was a good result for West Ham, and there should be no doubting that. But there are things to work out.

The Spurs match is in two days, so any long term changes we make now aren’t going to affect that, but there are things David Moyes needs to consider. We saw all of these in the West Brom match, and they are all things for him to consider.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: David Moyes, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: David Moyes, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /

Dangerous slow starts

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It was a characteristic under Bilic, but seems to have fallen away slightly under Moyes, however slow starts to matches can be fatal and we were lucky to get the three points we needed from this game.

For the first 45 minutes, most of the team looked uninterested. There seemed to be very little in the way of attacking intent, and the defence was passive. With West Brom playing this match 48 hours after the last it seemed a strange tactic. Would you not want to try and rush a team who would tire easily?

As mentioned earlier, the second half was much better. But we will face better teams than West Brom this season, and surrendering 45 minutes isn’t really an option there. This was the first time we’ve come from behind to win at the London Stadium. In fact it was the first time we’ve won there when the opposition has scored! As such it’s vital we don’t slip up early, and I think the West Brom goal was avoidable. The Hammers must start playing for the full 90 minutes.