Hammers win again but fail to impress

Ipswich Town 1 Hammers 2

Well we got away with it but whether we should have done is questionable: the answer, though immaterial, is probably NO!

A third minute header from Felipe Anderson off a fabulous Fredericks cross and an Arnie effort off 70 following an Ipswich mistake at the back saw us home but we were second best for long periods.

The hosts had equalised through the very lively Harrison who also hit the post and caused all sorts of issues although despite their quick movement, the Town forwards created little beyond that to worry a usually well marshalled Hammers defence.

We had started well and the goal should have given us the inspiration to press forward but instead it was Town who picked up the pace with plenty of quick passing and probing.

That may well have been as a result of the Hammers boss starting with last season’s midfield pairing of Obiang and Kouyate – playing his first pre-season match.

As was the case last season it was all too slow and predictable and the pace came from the likes of Masuaku, Yarmolenko and Anderson out wide but through the middle it was all far too predictable.

That changed a bit with the arrival of Declan Rice in the 71st minute taking over from Obiang and he was all endeavour, gule and clever twists and turns as the Irons started to take charge of the closing encounters.

Beyond their goal The Tractor Boys created little and the Hammers defence – a key priority for the manager this summer – looked secure with the starting back four being Fredericks, Balubuena, Ogbonna and Masuaku.

Sead Haksabanovich – who has obviously impressed the manager this summer – got another 27 minutes and Snodgrass 45 – but the boss will want to see a more positive Hammers in the last two friendlies of the pre-season and can’t have been more than 50 or 60 per cent happy with what he witnessed today.

Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena (Diop 71), Ogbonna, Masuaku (Zabaleta 71), Obiang (Rice 71), Kouyate (Noble 46), Yarmolenko (Haksabanovic 63), Wilshere (Snodgrass 46), Felipe Anderson (Martinez 63), Arnautovic © (Cullen 81)
Subs not used: Adrian (GK)