Premier League
KICK OFF 19:45
Slaven Bilic has picked perhaps his strongest team of the season as the Irons prepare to do battle with a team that hasn’t won on the road this season and has just one point from their travels.
The manager has thrown Andy Carroll in from the start and with Cheik Kouyate returning to a back three confidence will be high that we can claim our first three pointer since beating Sunderland back in October.
Darren Randolph retains his place between the sticks despite his error in gifting Liverpool an equaliser at Anfeld on Sunday.
Here’s the Hammers line-up for a critical game which could really start a run of games that can revoluttonise our season:
Randolph, Reid, Cresswell, Kouyate, Carroll, Lanzini, Obiang, Noble, Ogbonna, Payet, Antonio: Subs: Adrian, Nortveidt, Ayew, Fletcher, Fernandes Quina, Browne
2/Antonio cross to Carroll – header wide
4/ Much faster start by Irons than has been usual and Payet long shot held by Heaton
9/ Good intervention by Noble – ball falls to Lanzini who fires over
16/ Fine Noble ball in but Antonio just fails to reach a couple of yards out
Carroll winning all balls launched forward but midfield slow to capitalise
18/ Payet ball along ground to Carroll but tracked by defender and fires over
23/ Sloppy midfield stuff and loss of possession – quick move around Burnley box breaks down with a heavy ball from Noble
26/ Antonio corner strikes an arm but ref waves penalty appeals around during period of Irons pressure
33/ Quick passing movement by Irons ends with Antonio firing low but Heaton sprawls to save comfortably
37/Obiang picks up ball from Payet and rattles an upright with Heaton beaten
43/ Cresswell shot fired on angle was going in but fine block, before short Payet ball to Noble cannons off the upright
45/ Reid brought down in are PENALTY
46/ Noble penalty SAVED but the captain follows up to tap home
HALF TIME: IRONS 1 BURNLEY 0
Second Half KICKS OFF
50/ Voakes just inches wide with ball lifted into the box from free kick.
Hammers looking to hold posession rather than go for the second at the moment
Burnley don’t have much to offer but the Hammers remain on the back foot which is giving the visitors more confidence
56/Dangerous free kick and scrambled away by Hsmmers defence as Voakes looks sure to score. The Payet ruthlessly up-ended but he’s ok.
61/ Payet corner, Carroll header into Heaton’s armselt shot beats
62/ Very fast Burnley break and Ardvelt shot beats Randolph cleared into air and Voakes misses glaring chance thank God
64/ Neat passing between Payet and Lanzini but weak shot from Argentinian easily held by Heaton
68/ Lanzini off – Ayew on
West Ham really need to get on front foot or there could be a problem or two
74/ Arfeld free kick – fine Randolph save
Bad moment, Payet brought down cruelly – limps to sideline but he’s back and ok
82/ Fletcher ON Carroll OFF
88/ Burnley pressing and pressing but no clear cut chances
FIVE MINS EXTRA TIME – Irons nerves look totally shredded
93/ Ayew bursts between two players but just wide with shot
IT’S OVER
FULL TIME: IRONS 1 BURNLEY 0
You mention the ‘strong’ starting XI but it just goes to show how weak our transfer window policy was over the summer. Not one new signing ‘improving’ the XI from last year and considering Sakho is injured and Song has gone are we in fact weaker? …. when you start to look at it like that you can understand why we are where we are. Payet was not going to have the same impact either.
Job only half done for this week. I wasn’t there but from all accounts the performance was not great. Next to step up again at the weekend.