West Ham’s defensive record has come under plenty of scrutiny this season, but the numbers are beginning to tell a very different story. Back-to-back clean sheets have further underlined the progress being made at the back, with the Hammers now boasting one of the Championship’s strongest defensive records. After 11 matches, West Ham have conceded just 12 goals, a tally bettered by only three clubs in the division.
The eyebrow raising truth for Hammers fans to digest is that only Swansea (8), Southampton (10) and Birmingham (11) have shipped fewer goals, while QPR and West Bromwich Albion sit alongside the Hammers on 12 conceded.
For a side often criticised for its defensive shortcomings, that statistic paints a far more encouraging picture.
Yet perhaps even more impressive is the balance Nuno’s side have found between attack and defence.
While the back line has tightened up significantly, West Ham are also blowing away their promotion rivals at the other end of the pitch. The Hammers have scored a remarkable 30 goals in just 11 league matches, comfortably the best attacking record in the division.
Bowen and Dinos were both at it again against Lincoln as the Hammers have racked up a remarkable 30 goal total in 11 games
The closest challengers are Middlesbrough with 22 goals, but they have conceded 16 at the other end.
It means the Hammers are averaging almost three goals per game while maintaining a more solid defensive record. That is a formula usually associated with teams competing for automatic promotion rather than simply battling for play-off positions.
Another impressive point is the goals are flying in from all areas of the squad, as expected Jarrod Bowen is up there with six goals and five assists, yet our Greek defender Dinos Mavropanos has also weighed in with five goals. Joel Piroe and Mohamadou Kante have chipped in with three goals apiece, while also providing two assists between them. Divine Mukasa is also on three goals post his match winner against Swansea.
There is still a long way to go and sterner tests will undoubtedly come, but after 11 games the statistics suggest West Ham are developing into one of the most complete sides in the division.
Next up are Southampton, who conceded four goals to us earlier in the Carabao Cup. Despite starting the campaign with a four-point deduction, they remain firmly in the conversation for promotion.
COYI!
I watched the full match back vs Swans.
Defensive play was satisfactory, I noted that on several deadball situations when the ball was about to be played in, attackers had overloaded our last man in the zonal set up.
We were quite fortunate that we weren’t punished a few times for slack marking.
It’s a relatively new team, bedding in and seemingly improving the understanding between the players.
Misplaced passes though! Must do better.
Cheers DJH. I’ve just discovered full games on YouTube. Swansea and Lincoln. I didn’t know this sort of thing was available.
Filling a few more hours in front of the box now instead of just the highlights.
Cheers mate.
COYI
We even managed 9 goals in three league cup games. Also in the last two league games we haven’t conceded a shot on target
9-men teams don’t tend to score many goals