A dominant West Ham United should have been out of sight after 45 minutes, having had something around 75% possession and a hatful of attempts on goal in the first half an hour – Bowen came close a couple of times and Mavropanos’ header from a corner was well saved by Derby’s keeper, and Taty shot just wide just before half time.
As it was, the Hammers took a 1 – 0 lead through Joel Piroe’s aeriel tap – in from a Castellanos header back across the six yard line after Bowen crossed.
Simple, effective stuff but exactly what is required in this league.
However the Irons haven’t yet put the game to bed despite having the freedom to run onto their opponents who tried, pretty unsuccessfully, to operate a low block and as such conceded most of the territory and possession in the first 45.
Another goal for West Ham’s new number nine
Don’t think West Ham’s ‘keeper Mads Hermansen had a save to make of any description in the first half, such was the dominance of West Ham’s play and Derby’s lack of threat.
More goals needed to kill off this game, the Hammers simply need to continue in the vein they started rather than take their foot off the gas – which is always the worry with Nuno standing in the dugout- and a lack of attacking options on the bench thanks to Pablo’s late withdrawal from the original starting eleven.