By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings
Much has been written and spoken over the last 24 hours since our remarkable comeback at White Hart Lane. It’s certain to find a place in West Ham folklore, and rightly so.
As the record books now show, West Ham are the first team in Premier League history to be 3-0 down as late as the 81st minute and come back to avoid defeat. So why shouldn’t we milk that achievement to the utmost?
Obviously Manuel Lanzini’s incredible 93rd minute equalising strike has received most acclaim. It was truly a world class effort by our little Argentine.
Important performance from Yarmo
But I believe another individual contribution just before that magical moment is also worthy of merit and mention. Andrily Yarmolenko had only joined the action in the 75th minute. But his perfectly timed reverse pass to Vladimir Coufal set up the cross for Davinson Sanchez to head into his own goal, bringing the score back to 3-2.
Within minutes the big Ukrainian was playing an equally vital role back in his own penalty area. Having run virtually the length of the pitch tracking Harry Kane, Yarmolenko then spotted the new danger when the Spud’s skipper slipped the ball through to Gareth Bale.
The Welsh international looked odds on to score – but Yarmo had other ideas and his physical presence was enough to unsettle and unbalance Bale, who as a result put the ball wide.
It went down as a Bale miss – but Yarmolenko’s willingness to engage in a lung-bursting run to defend in his own box was a huge factor in that outcome.
The rest, as they say, is now history. There is a new resilience and fighting spirt about David Moyes’ team now, and that was never better illustrated than by Andrily Yarmolenko yesterday.
Long may it last!
I Like Yarmalenko but think you are going a bit over the top.
Totally agree Hugh yarmo showed he can fight for the team and his pass to coufal for the second goal was superb.
yes, i definitely noticed that. it was an amazing chase back, almost catching Kane at first before he layed it off for Bale. to then keep going was immense.
i do have a beef though. must we keep referring to Lanzini as ‘little’ in every article. we all know how tall he is, or isn’t. it’s condescending. as for the incredibly tall Soucek…
If he is willing to be a two-way player we have an embarrassment of riches
Spot on Allen. .
Yarmalenko has been guilty of not defending in the past in the way that Bowen does, but Allen is right about his short but significant contribution on Sunday. I think it points to the great team spirit that Moyes and his staff have developed – none of the players want to let their team-mates down and it shows in the way they celebrate together too. That team spirit will gain us more points this season and has cost us … nothing! So different to the Pellegrini days or the last sad days of Bilic.
Well done Allen, for bringing attention to Yarmolenko’s efforts. I wrote the same thing incomments yesterday.
Absolutely agree. He is a class player and deserves more plaudits. The guy that I’m continually amazed by though is Bowen. I have no idea how many Weetabix he has but the amount of running and tackling he did for the full 90 was astonishing.
Spot on mate. Was definitely one of the game changers. Football brains, great vision and silky touches. Gives different kind a quality when we need to unlock doors. A bit sad that he is judged by his pace. That wasn’t too big problem with Di Canio back in the days..