Irons 2 WBA 2
A bitterly disappointing outcome with seconds separating us from a win the second half performance thoroughly deserved.
But the difference in this West Ham team to the one we saw for so long earlier in the season is the massive plus with every man giving 100 pr cent to the cause and battling to the last drop of sweat.
Having gone behind in the first half when Chadli nut-megged Kouyate and goalkeeper Randolph with ease, the Irons saw a perfectly good Feghouli goal ruled out when Antonio was adjudged offside.
But that was a big mistake from the officials because the striker for the day was moving back to an onside position and in no way interfering with play.
And given that Feghouli had clearly been fouled in the build up to the Albion goal it really looked as if there as no way this would be our day.
We lost Cresswell at half time and Calieri appeared as Slav threw caution to the wind and attacked the visitors with a vengeance.
Our domination was almost total and we got out just desserts through Feghouli’s tap in from a Lanzini shot against the bar and a Lanzini special four minutes from the end.
Sadly Albion won a corner with 30 seconds of injury time left and with Randolph failing to get anywhere near it Jonny Evans rose to head home the equaliser.
Slaven joined his number two in the stands after the latter had tried to influence the officials that the disallowed goal should stand and the manager decided to destroy a TV mike.
There was loads to admire, notably the manager’s bravery in going for it big time and in Robert Snogdrass the Hammers have made a brilliant signing. His set pieces and general contribution is first class.
The spirit, courage, determination and at times excellent football showed how far the Irons have travelled these last few weeks and although it was seriously disappointing to see two points slip away the revolution which has overtaken the team is absolutely great.
The 2nd half was the closest I’ve seen to last season since the move..good football, good atmosphere !
It was a great performance and one that should have ended in a win if not for once again awful refereeing. Very very unlucky in the end. But I am so very proud of the team and Bilic today.
Getting fed up of so many games being decided by poor referee’s. Time now for football to drag itself into the 21st century and start allowing some kind of video challenges. I say each team gets 2 per half.
2 things I have to add. Get Adrian back in goal quick, Randolph has been poor of late, as well as today. Next GIVE SLAVEN BILIC HIS CONTRACT EXTENSION. The guy has done more than enough to prove he deserves one.
In Slav We Trust!!!!!!!!
I completely agree about the atmosphere.It was pretty noisy & very good.
yea,it looked & sounded like it on a stream.We SERIOUSLY NEED some better defenders.
+Yea,Randolph needs to hand back the shirt.
The only criticism I can make is why as the home team do we not play with two strikers up front Slav does not seem too great on tactics surely the best defence is offence he only played Callereri when he was forced to do something, once he came on we had a lot more space up front.
His Tactics got us 7th last season and an FA Cup Quarter Final, our record Premier League points haul, highest Premier League goals scored and first ever Premier League Positive goal difference. His tactics this season have got us 10th so far with 13 games still to play.
Seems good enough to me. 😀
We all knew that there was something not quite right in the squad, that something has been sorted & we are now starting to see what we are really all about. Tactics play a big part in that. No longer trying to fit around one player & playing as a team.