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Two points dropped in dire draw

West Ham were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle United on Saturday in what was a poor game of football.

The two sides did entertain in the first half as the game threatened to turn into an end-to-end contest.

Both goals in the game came in that first period, as Craig Dawson powered a header home for the Hammers and Joe Willock scored for Newcastle.

But the second half saw precious little goalmouth action, with neither Lukasz Fabianski nor Martin Dubravka called into action with regularity.

In the first half, the Hammers started poorly defensively, as they looked jittery defending a couple of corners from the away side.

But they did fashion the first proper chance when man of the moment Jarrod Bowen hit the crossbar. He was played in down the right channel by Ryan Fredericks, who was substituted at half-time, and he smacked a bouncing effort at goal, only to see Dubravka tip it onto the crossbar.

On the half-hour mark, the Irons had the lead, as Dawson, who was magnificent all game, got free in the box and thumped a header into the bottom corner after Aaron Cresswell’s pinpoint free-kick delivery.

Newcastle did fashion another chance before half-time and they scored from it. Jacob Murphy played in Ryan Fraser down the left flank, and he crossed; Declan Rice seemed certain to clear it, but his header skewed back towards his own goal and Willock got a boot to the ball, turning it just over the line.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the second half was Said Benrahma’s substitution on 71 mins, as he was replaced by Nikola Vlasic. The Algeria international was slow to get off the pitch, simply ambling towards the touchline, and was told in no uncertain terms by David Moyes to hurry up.

It’s fair to say that the rest of the game passed without much goalscoring incident, although Newcastle eyes lit up in injury time when Dawson inadvertently headed the ball out for a corner after a mix-up with Fabianski. In keeping with the rest of the half, it came to nothing.

Overall, one has to say that this point is one that Newcastle will be delighted with, as they continue their slow climb away from the relegation zone. For the Hammers, this will feel like two points dropped, especially if our top-four rivals win their games this weekend.

 

About Dave Langton

A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.

6 comments on “Two points dropped in dire draw

  1. It looked like Benrahma said to Moyes, ‘you sub me every time’, and he makes a good point.
    Antonio and Fornals were totally ineffective and should have been hooked long before Benrahma.
    Moyes shook his head at one of Antonio’s sky shots, yet he could have changed things around, but kept on with the same formation watching him trying impossible or clumsy shots.
    We are getting worse week by week

  2. Top 4 long gone. Why is ANTONIO IN THE TEAM AT PRESENT ?OH YES WE FORGOT TO SIGN ANYONE.

  3. Poor game , not good enough , the players need to wake up and work harder to win games if we want too 4 !

  4. Another two points dropped. With arguably their three most influential players missing (St Maximin Wilson Trippier), what a time to play them and we still couldn’t dominate the game. The Geordies had more possession, more shots, more corners!
    We are a mid-table side, that punched above it’s weight in the first half of the season. Apart from Rice, Bowen and possibly two centre halves, the rest are mediocre at best.
    Can see us out of the two cups and nothing to play for by the end of March.
    Sorry to sound so negative, but on the last few performances, haven’t got much hope left.

  5. We’re a long ball team with long throw ons and corners. Boring alardyce football.

  6. Looking stake, leggy and out of ideas now. Where are the U23’s? This needs sorting DM. Antonio playing too deep and no focus. Fornals can’t play left mid. Rice and Soucek – put it right DM. Get the full back situ under control. Fredericks and Masuaku are hopeless defenders, obvious. Stop making the same choices, the same mistakes, show some boldness and control.

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