West Ham’s season finale against Leeds went down to the wire but the mood became deflated as news spread from Tottenham Hotspur’s game – Spurs taking the lead late-on in the first half put a massive ‘downer’ on the tone at London Stadium. West Ham huffed and puffed but made few clear cut chances in the first half. As it stood at half time, West Ham were going down without a whimper.
Callum Wilson entered at half time and the Irons had a couple the of half chances- but the Tottenham scoreline overshadowed events on the pitch at London stadium. From nothing, Bowen’s corner was beautifully netted by Castellanos to put West Ham ahead – yet still the Spurs scoreline didn’t change.
Jarrod Bowen’s second goal from a brilliant Fernandes through pass made the game safe – and Wilson fired home a third – but still Moyes’ Everton couldn’t influence the final outcome as the Spurs game drifted into nine minutes of added time.
Player ratings:
Hermansen 6 One important save from Calvert- Lewin in the first half. Another grab early on in the second ’45. Otherwise untroubled.
Walker Peters 6 Solid enough first half but few chances to attack. Hardly troubled in the second half.
Mavropanos 7 One poor challenge early in the second half revealed an ‘old’ style Mavropanos lunge, fortunately Leeds couldn’t convert the free kick.
Disasi 7 Efficient without being stretched in the first half. Industrious, efficient, hardly troubled. One foray forward in the second half.
Diouf 5 Error – strewn first half, rescued three times by team mates as his shaky defending almost cost the irons.
Soucek 6 Very luck to escape a yellow in the second minute after getting the wrong side of a Leeds attacker. Almost smuggled a goal home late on in a typical Soucek goal mouth scramble.
Fernandes 8 Important defensive tackles to cover for Diouf in the first half and one dipping shot brought back memories of past glories. One run on goal mid-second half came to nothing. Quality through pass to set up a brilliant assist for Bowen for West Ham’s second.
Bowen 7 Muted first half looking a yard off the pace. Misplaced pass almost allowed Leeds in. Bowen looks a shadow of the player who ran riot in previous seasons. Invisible second half jogging around without impacting the game. Inch perfect corner delivery for the assist for Taty’s goal. And one through pass from Fernandes allowed Bowen to roll back the years and shoot home right-footed into the far corner. Brilliant finish.
Taty 8 Good forward play, drawing fouls and winning free kicks: One headed effort looped just over the Leeds bar in the first half. Slipped when through in goal early in the second half when most would have expected him to at least get a shot away. Blazed over the bar two minutes later. Leapt high to head West Ham ahead from Bowen’s corner on 76 minutes. Subbed for last 5 minutes.
Pablo 4 Chasing but no end product as usual – did have one effort hit the side netting late in the first half. Hooked at half time.
Summerville 7 Effective tackling back, on more than one occasion chasing 50 metres to rescue possession after a Diouf error. Hardly showed going forward in the first half. One run on goal after Taty’s overhit pass sent him wide summed up the second half.
Substitutes:
Wilson 9 almost grabbed an assist for Taty with his first touch. Sadly Castellanos slipped at the wrong moment. Carried more threat – at 80% of the speed – of Pablo’s first half canter. Denied a goal by a brilliant Darlow save in added time but blasted in a signing- off third in added time.
Kanté – on for Taty in last few minutes.
We must go and get Craig Bellamy …
Real statement of intent !
Not Parker , Cooper or Dyche ….please not any of these
You can’t blame Moyes
We only have ourselves to blame
Just could not find the net in a lot of games which cost us
Had our chances but the players just did not turn up, too many players lost their form. Only players who looked like they really cared was Taty and Disasi.
Let’s hope we can bounce straight back up
But Sullivan you need to go
Got exactly what we deserved
A pitiful season. Wasted so many chances, things could have been so different if Sullivan purchased the descent players we were supposed to have been chasing
Nothing will change while he is here
Do the descent thing now, walk
If you care about this club you will go.
Let someone come in who wants to get this club up with the elite.We certainly have the fans, the stadium is getting a better atmosphere, due to the fans
We have wasted so much money on useless players which we have been unable to sell on.
I agree with you, we did get exactly what we deserved. Trouble is, our Mr Sullivan should have sold up last season, when he might have got a good price. Now he would be lucky to get half of that. So he ain’t going anywhere.. I really hate having to say this. But I think we are going to be stuck with more of his bad/idiotic decisions. Until some Arabs or anyone else who fancies a punt, can open their cheque book to finally put us out of our misery. In the meantime, COYI forever..
I agree with you Sue, we did get exactly what we deserved. Trouble is, our Mr Sullivan should have sold up last season, when he might have got a good price. Now he would be lucky to get half of that. So he ain’t going anywhere.. I really hate having to say this. But I think we are going to be stuck with more of his bad/idiotic decisions. Until some Arabs or anyone else who fancies a punt, can open their cheque book to finally put us out of our misery. In the meantime, COYI forever..
When it was announced by all and sundrie three months ago that this squad would be sold off regardless of survival the writing was on the wall. No team can perform to a level when half of the players know they will be elsewhere next season.
Anyway..Millwall it is !!.cOyi
I watched the spurs Everton game. It reminded me very much of west ham under Moyes. Same tactics, same difficulty coming back after conceding, the game was screaming for changes and a plan B but they came too late.
Now is the time for plan b, c d.
Shame on you Moyes let whu down again.
Some people are on the pitch. They think it’s all over. It is now.
Have a great summer everyone.
Have a good one Taffyhammer.
Not going to defend Sullivan, and blame everyone else?
We should all be extremely angry, this has happened due to the club being run by a greedy little man with little to no class or ethics.
Sullivan.
Welcome to the Championship. Looking forward to derby game with QPR next season.
What a sad day for West Ham fans. Some of the best supporters in Europe. Some of my best friends here in Dublin support you.