Mikey missing
Hammers 2 Southampton 3
West Ham slumped to their third home defeat of the season as the very worrying run of recent results went on against Southampton – a team that hasn’t beaten us in several seasons.
And another blow was in Declan Rice receiving a yellow card during the first half which rules him out of the trip to Vicarage Road on Tuesday should the game go ahead.
At times – notably in the first half – it was like watching the old West Ham as the south coast side bossed affairs during the first 20 minutes and then sucker punched us by adopting a counter attacking game far more associated with us to win.
They grabbed their first away win of in 14 attempts against a Hammers side who looked nothing like the one that had started the season so brilliantly but has now recorded just one win in the last eight games.
The visitors went ahead via a great strike from Elyounoussi in the eighth minute before Mikey Antonio headed home from a Dawson assist three minutes after coming on for the second half.
A controversial penalty from Ward Prowse was equalised by Benrahma with a sweetly hit close range drive after great work saw Milkey hold off about four defenders to help set it up.
And with us all expecting the Hammers to give us a grandstand climax a shock winner came from the visitors with a header from Bednarek.
Mikey Antonio’s entry at half time looked set to spark the comeback as he gave us his best game in several weeks but it wasn’t enough to help us avoid a horrible defeat and more dressing room and terraces anxiety.
Seasons greeting’s!
What a great season it has been thus far! Moreover, what a special year of football that we have witnessed. So much so, that today’s feeling of disappointment is quite strange, almost a forgotten sensation.
It’s been said that “ form is temporary, but class is permanent”. Unfortunately for us a large percentage of our class is missing, Moyes’ Hammers are primarily a defensive – counter attacking team, but without the first choice defensive unit we lack solidity and are not as potent offensively as confidence is waining.
Whilst I’m aware of neighbours who have upped their game it is of no consequence to us.
Our settled team has punched above its weight for such a long period of time, now we approach the second half of this campaign in a healthy position to better last seasons points tally if we regain our momentum.
With two knockout cups to contest whilst still ruffling the feathers of the financially advantaged I continue to see huge progress within our club.
Let’s rejoice in our lofty league position and continue to look upwards.
Up the Hammers.
COYI