By Hugh Southon
Villa 0 Irons 0
The Hammers drew on all their reserves of courage and character as they battled for 23 minutes with 10 men after being hit by the Mike Dean factor.
The card-happy official decided that Arthur Masuaku had to go for a second yellow but TV replays showed it to be a harsh decision for the coming together with Elmohamady.
In days gone by that would have been all too much but tonight the Hammers used the setback to launch themselves forward and with Haller holding things up so well up top we came away with a deserved point
Sadly it meant the third place which was available at the start went begging and instead we lifted ourselves into eighth place from ninth – one of six teams on eight points.
The game really never caught fire and there is no doubt the Irons were the classier of the two outfits although nobody could fault Villa’s energy and enthusiasm.
The Hammers will have been happy to have kept another clean sheet and Issa Diop made some brilliant interventions and tackles to win my personal man of the match award.
Manu Lanzini was constantly on the move but after bright starts Anderson and Yarmolenko disappointed and were finally subbed.
But much praise has to go to Lukasz Fabianski would made one brilliant punched clearance and an outstanding save from John McGinn right on half time.
But at the end of it all you are left with the impression that we are watching a very different West Ham United – one which can combine skill and panache with character and courage.
COYI
Pretty even contest despite Dean’s effort to ruin it. I thought we slowed up attacks too often and with a bit more incisiveness we could have won. We looked the most likely after the red and if Fornals had more confidence we would’ve won.
For me Declan was MOTM and had a classy intelligent interview after the match.
COYI!!!
As per Mike Dean wanted to be center of attention in front of the live sky cameras the fact we were singing songs about him would only made him feel 10ft tall as he revels in the limelight plus the fact he is hated by most fan bases shows how he tries his best to be controversial in every game he is a disgrace and it’s a fact that you would be hard pressed to name a decent ref nowadays. They can’t even get it right with VAR !!!!!
Was it just me that thinks we never got out of second gear against a bog average villa side.
We have players that should of torn them apart but we continue to come out and play like it’s a friendly match.
Where’s the will to win the tempo the passion the belief! We have the quality but it seems they are all happy to win nothing and achieve mid table mediocrity.
Come on West Ham let’s be aving you !!!!!!!! Very disappointed
Couldn’t agree more.If we want top 6 these are the games we should be winning.Villa are very average,without Grealish they have no creativity.
Why cant VAR be used on bookings,its ridiculous that straight reds can be rescinded,its like theres an assumption refs cant get two decisions wrong.
Not only Arthur should not have gone for 2nd booking,but Elmohamdy should have got a card for simulation.
Final bit of rant,i thought Nobes way below his best,passing awful and tackling mistimed.
Ok so we done well with 10 men but a bit disappointed when we had 11 . I agree with Trev we could and should have done better , we didn’t get many shots in target . I’m not moaning as such as it’s a good point in the end but we should be beating teams like villa . I really hope we beat Man Utd that would really make me happy. Onwards and upwards COYI ⚒