Hammers 2 Brighton 2
Well, in the end it was about as exciting as a a game of football gets but it really shouldn’t have been like that.
For just as was the case of Burnley we didn’t turn up until halfway through the second half when two goals down to grab two of our own through the heartbeat of the team – Mr Arnautovic.
And they both came via two key substitutions, Noble and Antonio, with the skipper playing up a brilliant ball for Arnie to grab his first and Antonio running to the by line before cutting back a pass for his second.
For ten minutes or so after that a third looked inevitable for the Hammers with Antonio blasting over after bursting between two defenders and Rice firing narrowly wide into a stanchion.
Sadly the first half was dreadful with the Irons showing little other than a lot of nerves with the entire team looking just a shade better than at Burnley.
Thank God, they improved after Stephens rapped home a drive and Duffy hooked back into goal from a corner – very poor marking on the far post – and something the manager needs to seriously address.
But in the end it all came as right as perhaps it should have done because much as we wanted it probably a win would have been unjustified.
Beyond the two key substitutes , Cresswell had a decent game, Zaba was just Zaba but Andy Carroll really doesn’t look to have a place in this system after being subbed at half time.
Events elsewhere ensured we moved into 10th place so at the end of a very tiring and competitive set of games through the busiest period of the season no complaints at all really other than: YOU REALLY HAVE TO START PLAYING BEFORE YOU GO TWO DOWN!