The West Ham game plan was fairly simple, collapse to the back and make life difficult for Manchester City. With the scoreline ending 1-0 City took all three points but how different this match could have been if not for an awful refereeing decision.
It’s always the way it goes, isn’t it? West Ham play up to their competitions’ levels but are undone by a situation out of their own control. Maybe it’s the offside goal Liverpool were allowed or the non-penalty call awarded to Manchester City that saw them win. Either way, there is seemingly no justice for this hard-working Hammers team.
The goal against was an unearned one. After stymying the City attack for the majority of the first half, Pep Guardiola brought on Bernardo Silva. Silva has been an unlikely standout on a team full of superstars this season, but feeling a hand on your back and dropping to the ground is inexplicable.
With no contact on his legs, no sloppy tackling, and no pulling or dragging back Silva apparently was contacted enough to warrant his legs to stop working. As silly as I’m describing it, I’m hard-pressed to find a more accurate way to write it. City were handed this one.
And as disappointing as it is, no one expected West Ham to get a result in this match, but even still the team played hard and City needed a BS penalty to win the match. We can hang our hats on that… and the low goal differential.
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For West Ham, there were plenty of outstanding players, none more so than Ryan Fredericks. Fredericks replaced Zabaleta last week and continued to show why he should be the starting right-back yet again. 1-on-1 he was awesome shutting down Leroy Sane, and his blinding pace getting forward and back was needed. Tremendous performance, man of the match worthy.
Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna were terrific, too. Both hammered the Cityzens with the offside trap constantly, and both stuck in for needed tackles and blocks all afternoon.
Recognition also needs to be given to Ben Johnson, the academy graduate who was thrust into the starting spotlight at left-back with Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku both out of game shape. Johnson was a little shaky early, but his speed and sticktoitiveness frustrated a sloppy Riyad Mahrez.
And lastly, Andy Carroll. I’m sure he was as surprised to start as we all were when we saw the team sheet, but in a game that needed a physical striker, Carroll did alright. He looked a different player when Lanzini was in control in the second half, even getting West Ham’s best chance, catapulting his long leg at a beautifully weighted through ball. In a game he really had no business being in, Carroll showed up and played hard. Good on him.
Overall, West Ham played well and it really does feel like a point dropped. The defensive drilling was awesome to see, the midfield missed Noble and Snodgrass, and the attack just didn’t have enough time to get going. Newcastle comes to East London next, and the Hammers should be motivated to nab all three points.