West Ham miss out on Betway Cup to compile misery

West Ham have lost their inaugural preseason tournament, the Betway Cup, after being hammered 5-3 by Bournemouth.

There was a lot of pressure on West Ham. The fans and players alike have let their feelings know about the sale of Grady Diangana. Since the youngster’s departure protests aimed at the board have been continuous on social media.

West Ham Team News

David Moyes named as strong a West Ham side as he could for the Betway Cup friendly against AFC Bournemouth. The Scottish manager called on a back four of Aaron Cresswell, Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Ben Johnson ahead of David Martin in goal.

The midfield consisted of Pablo Fornals, Manuel Lanzini and Captain Mark Noble. The 33-year-old kept his place in the team, despite making his anger about the sale of youngster Grady Diangana known last night.

The attack consisted of Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Sebastien Haller, which completed a very attacking line-up for the Hammers. Moyes was without Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Lukasz Fabianski, Andriy Yarmolenko and Darren Randolph, who were away on international duty.

Match Report- First Half

Bournemouth started the better of the two sides and took an early lead. Arnaut Danjuma burst through the Hammers defence, without much difficulty. The winger took his chance and slotted the ball past Martin from close range.

West Ham reacted well and started to play some good football, but were not able to create any clear opportunities on goal. The cherries were defending very well and looking to hit the Hammers on the break.

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This plan was working brilliantly for the visitors as they doubled their lead on the sixteen-minute mark. Adam Smith broke away down the left side and cut back a perfect pass for Dominic Solanke. The former Liverpool striker made no mistake and fired his shot into the goal.

The Hammers defence seemed completely disjointed, Diop was clearly suffering from not having played any football so far this preseason. Johnson was also struggling to cope with Danjuma. Both of the defenders picked up early yellow cards.

Moyes made an early change. The manager dragged Johnson and replaced him with Ryan Fredericks, the more senior right-back. It’s clear to see where investment needs to be spent, on improving the West Ham side.

West Ham were then forced into making another change. Lanzini was forced off with an injury and headed straight down the tunnel. Academy graduate Josh Cullen was the player that was called upon to replace the argentine.

The Hammers did get themselves a goal back before half-time. Substitute Cullen was able to flick a through ball to Bowen. The winger controlled the ball between two Bournemouth defenders and lifted his shot over the keeper.

Unbelievably West Ham managed to grab an equaliser before half-time. It was the same connection between Cullen and Bowen. The Irish midfielder whipped in a perfect cross for Bowen, who guided the ball into the corner of the goal for his second of the match.

Second Half

The first chance of the second-half fell to the home side. Cullen pulling strings again clipped a cross towards Antonio. The Cherries defence won the header, but the ball dropped for Haller. The Frenchman took the chance on the full volley, but could only smash his shot over.

Despite West Ham holding the majority of possession, it was Bournemouth show scored next and regained their lead. The cherries broke away, and Solanke had the first chance but was forced out wide but Martin. Solanke’s shot hit the post, falling to Philip Billing, the Danes shot rebounded to Dan Gosling who hammered the ball in from the top of the box.

This goal led to Moyes to look to his bench to turn the game around. Felipe Anderson, Jack Wilshere, Fabian Balbuena and Arthur Masuaku looking to come on. Before the subs could be made, Adam Smith doubled Bournemouth’s lead.

The defender’s shot from the corner of the box was drilled towards the goal. Martin did get a touch on the ball, but it was not enough to stop the goal. The subs were made after the goal, Mark Noble, Jarrod Bowen, Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio were all replaced.

The subs did little to pick up the Hammers performance, as the Cherries scored their fifth of the afternoon. Substitute Jaidon Anthony, with all the time in the world, curled a beautiful shot past Martin to put the game out of sight.

Bournemouth wanted to compound more misery on to the hapless Hammers and were pushing for a sixth goal. West Ham looked disjointed as if the sale of Diangana has destroyed all the momentum built up in previous preseason matches.

Moyes trying to salvage what he could from the game made some more changes. Fornals and Haller were replaced by Xande Silva and Robert Snodgrass. It was Snodgrass’ first match since his injury last season.

Snodgrass instantly made an impact; his free-kick was put out for a corner. The scot then took the following corner. The cross was met by Anderson at the near post; the Brazilian flicked a powerful header past the Bournemouth goalkeeper for West Ham’s third of the match.

The goal was merely a consilation however, as the Hammers preparations for next season ended in the worst possible way. West Ham will now play their next match against Newcastle in the Premier League next Saturday.