West Ham’s turning point play came from their keeper

A 3-1 stat line with a garbage time (foul-ridden) goal from the losing team suggests that West Ham dominated Cardiff City. However, without the Hammer’s stellar keeper, this match could have easily turned out to be something much different, and they have Fabianski to thank for that.

The play was the incredible penalty save from Lukasz Fabianski on midfielder Joe Ralls, who took the opportunity won by Canadian Junior Hoilett off of an unnecessary chest-bump foul from Marko Arnautovic. It was a soft call as Hoilett dropped as soon as he felt contact, but nonetheless it was called.

Fabianski guesses right with a left-sided dive, not only stopping the opportunity but gathering in the ball to limit any rebound chance. It was as composed as you’d like from your keeper as Fabianski preserved a 0-0 scoreline allowing his team to remain level early in the first half.

I was at my desk watching on my cell phone when the penalty happened. I was pissed Arnautovic decided he needed to make that decision on a play that was trailing away from the net, I was angry that it was called a penalty at all, and I was jubilant when Fabianski miraculously stopped it. In reality, though, I was stonefaced and emotionless trying to sell the idea that I was doing my work – what a roller coaster.

The skipper sums up the importance of that save and in turn the importance of having a top-class keeper like Fabianski, post-match stating:

"“You never know what might have happened had that penalty gone in. We would have been losing 1-0 and the away team could have finished the first half in front when they didn’t have a shot on our goal before then and we had three clear chances, but it was a very good save for Lukasz.”"

Well, said Pellers. But that has really been the story all season long, hasn’t it?. West Ham, when getting off to a quick start, seem to be a stellar team who can challenge the world, but should they be a little sluggish off the mark they have had to rely on their keeper to keep them in games.

Even with the team performing well as of late, Fabianski still showed why an elite shot-stopper is necessary. West Ham have relied on him all too much this season and are starting to bail him out more often but he’ll never be unneeded and proved that against Cardiff.

The butterfly effect has me thinking terrible, terrible things here. What if that penalty went in? West Ham are down, Arnautovic is off injured, West Ham lose to Cardiff at home. The wheels would be flying off this team in a hurry with an inviting stretch of games turning potentially potent, spiraling the team out of ascension and hurtling towards a relegation battle again.

This harrowing potential future brings me back to my initial point – having an elite level keeper settles the mind, settles the defenders, settles the entire team, and gives the supporters faith. He’s gotten a lot of love so far this season but it still isn’t enough so why not another toast to West Ham’s stellar keeper. Here’s to you, Fabianski! The keeper West Ham need and deserve; our Polish post jockey!