Swansea 0 – 1 West Ham United | Finals whistle, first impressions as West Ham down the league leaders

Decisions, decisions… another controversial first half with West Ham going in at half time with a goal advantage, thanks to what looked a very offside Mohamadou Kantė squaring for Mukasa to side foot into the centre of Swansea’s goal. Shortly after, the Swans were denied an equaliser after the ball ricocheted from off the cross bar down onto the goal line, with the very strong suspicion of Veltman’s  claret and blue clad arm poking the ball away ,twice, unspotted, inside the box during the build up.

A very much more combative, if somewhat bruised Irons team completed that first half where the ice packs would have been in copious supply in West Hams dressing room at half time: Kantė and Veltman seemingly clattered endlessly during a first 45 where the Hammers’ endeavour and fighting spirit  could not, for a change, be criticised.

Few chances, typically aggressive, feisty football and West Ham’s extra midfielder certainly looked to provide that extra resilience required to keep their opponents at bay. One shot on target, one nil.

I wondered how costly Pablo’s two second half chances- one blazed over and the easier one, put through by Kantė, prodded tamely straight at the ‘keeper, might prove as the Hammers looked for a second goal to kill the game. Nuno clearly lost patience with his bearded protegė and subbed him just after, for Taty, who’d surely have buried the second of Pablos’s fluffed chances.

Swansea’s fluffed chance down the other end was even worse as their skipper somehow volleyed wide from five yards, “West Ham’s goal living a charmed  life‘ according to the commentary. Interestingly, Nuno kept the changes positive with Austbø for Kantė ..and yet still more Hammers chances came and went. Ominously, The Swans’ top scorer of last season  Jan Vipotnik entered – meaning Hammers fans could see first hand the prowess of the man many wanted to bring to east London this summer.

Piroe and Soucek for Mukasa and Solomon with 5 minutes remaining again kept the Hammers goal threat intact- no ‘defensive- minded’ changes from Nuno this time. Very noticeable that West Ham’s strength in depth paid dividends as the substitutes seemed to give the Hammers a tighter grip, if anything, on their slender one-nil lead. Yet another change went begging as Piroe shot wide following Austbø’s run deep into the 5 minutes added time.

No matter, five minutes safely navigated, a massive 0 – 1 away win from a solid, feisty, fighting West Ham performance which would have been a huge statement of intent as the league leaders were beaten at home.