West Ham would never have it easier away from home after their hosts effectively committed hari-kiri with two justified red cards inside the first twenty five minutes. An awful late leg-breaker style challenge on Joel Veltman saw Tom Hamer get his marching orders and then last man Conor McGrandles hauled down Jarrod Bowen, receiving the second red of the half to put West Ham firmly in the ascendency.
Lincoln were architects of their own downfall with ill discipline leading to two red cards inside the first half an hour
However to took the Irons anther twenty minutes to land a glove on their opponent as the Hammers huffed and puffed but failed to connect their passes to any end result until just before half time when Bowen’s corner was met by, of course, Dinos Mavropanos and the Irons’ blushes were spared as they went in at half time a goal up against nine players. 81% possession for Nuno’s side but few chances created.
That looked better at half time: West Ham back up to third place in the league.
Now Nuno’s side had to go on and dominate the second half against Lincoln’s nine men and make this a big statement win.
An inspired substitution with which to start the second half: Edwin Austbø appearing and firing in a stunning strike from the left of the box to put the Irons firmly in control within three minutes of coming on. Jarrod Bowen wriggled through and bobbled in a deflected third a minute later and the contest was officially over.
Minutes for Taty and Golambecks as Solomon and Mavropanos were rested made sense: Surely a clean sheet beckoned for Hermansen’s stats tonight?
The biggest cheer of the night from the 1100 away fans was for Pablo’s header from a corner that pin-balled in for his first league goal and West Ham’s fourth. All good for the goal difference which now totalled twenty seven goals scored in eleven games.
Soucek’s one-two with Bowen and a classy side foot into the top corner of the net made it five and even the most robust Lincoln fans must have been thinking about an early exit. “West Ham are Massive” rang out around this tiny ground and thanks to their own ill discipline inside the first twenty five minutes, the Imps were down and out.
Mind you, the camera cut to the West Ham manager on the sideline at 0-5 and he still looked as unhappy as ever. Penny for them, Nuno? Perhaps West Ham’s manager might have allowed himself a smile as Soucek slotted in a sixth and the evening was done, West Ham equaling their biggest ever away win, apparently.
Well done to Edwin Austbø for his man of the match performance and a real head turning individual goal of top quality.
Great to win away 6 nil but still looks a disjointed team with very little fluent play. Pablo tries hard but is not the one for the role he is being played. Poor control and often turns into defenders. The games we are winning are due to the quality of the players over the opposition not the coaching especially when we are put under pressure we are lacking shape and commitment.
Don’t get excited it’s 9 man Lincoln. Wait and see after the Swansea game on Saturday to get a clearer picture