Irons 1 WBA 1
Mauro Zarate’s wondrous goal was cancelled out by one of the luckiest we are likely to see in a long time as the Hammers were held to a draw.
The No 10 lifted a magnificent free kick into the top corner in the 16th minute after Sakho had been held by Olssen to set us on what looked like a straightforward three points against a poor Baggies team in the first 45.
Kouyate should have put us further ahead but somehow managed to head wide in front of goal from Cresswell’s cross before Myhill went low to save from Lanzini.
The little Argeninian had a great afternoon and saw another fierce drive parried by the Baggies keeper. He was then at the heart of another move involving Zarate and Moses before seeing his shot fly for a corner.
The manager had recalled Ogbonna for Tomkins and he looked in good nick at the back and opted to play Sakho through the middle with Carroll on the bench. Obiang came in for Noble.
It looked far far better and anything other than a Hammers win looked impossible on the basis of a dominant first 45 minutes.
Albion boss Tony Pulis thre two up at the start of the second half and within five minutes of the break they were level when Lambert’s wayward drive deflected off Reid, wrong footing Adrian. A shocker.
But they bossed the second period with Adrian being called on to make a wonder save from Rondon as the visitors poured forward.
The Hammers were second best throughout the second half but might have nicked it at the death when Myhill saved well from a well struck Cresswell free kick.
Carroll had entered the action on the hour and saw one goal bound effort well blocked and Jelavic appeared late on for Sakho who went of holding his thigh.
Perhaps the biggest cheer of the afternoon though – apart from the goal – came when Michail Antonio was introduced in the 83rd minute for Zarate.
In the end a draw was probably a fair result and at least helped us up to seventh place tonight.
Ratings: Adrian 7; Jenkinson 5, Reid 7 Ogbonna 6 Cresswell 7; Obiang 6 , Kouyate 8, Lanzini 7 Zarate 7, Moses 6, Sakho 7. Subs: Carroll 5 Jelavic 5 Antonio 5
MAN OF THE MATCH: KOUYATE
