Match-day morning in the championship. West Ham host play-off challengers West Bromwich Albion in a battle of two sides with dreadful records for going behind in matches. The Hammers with nine games already this season have one of the worst records in the league for gifting their opponents a head start, and today’s visitors find themselves on a run of six consecutive games of going behind.
Something has to give.
The return of ‘clean sheet Mads’? If only.
Nuno has already made it clear that he’s trying to address the trend, as per his insistence back on 9th October:
“When you look back, you say we have to fix it urgently; we have to start the games better. We have to start games and sustain the level of performance”… was met with two clean sheets, but then a relapse last weekend and three first half goals conceded.
Clearly something needs to be said in the dressing room to send his team out ready to halt the slide to a tenth early concession in what will be just sixteen competitive fixtures.
As the BBC put it succinctly:
“Of the 20 goals the Irons have conceded in all competitions, 15 of them have come in the first half of games, and they only remain in the mix at the top because they have scored 20 of the club record-equalling 32 league goals after half-time.
They are consistently having to chase the game, and the trend shows no signs of letting up.”
Stop giving opponents a head start and, in effect, Nuno can fix West Ham’s promotion challenge.
It won’t get any easier than today against the other ‘worst side in the league’ for going behind. London Stadium’s sixty thousand will be only too aware of the Irons’ nasty little habit and will respond in traditional style – as they did last weekend – if a tenth first-half goal slips through the hapless Hammers defence.
How about playing the game in your opponents half, Nuno. It’s mighty tough for the opposition to score if the ball stays 50 yards away from Mads Hermansen’s goal.
Revolutionary thinking, I know. 3pm this afternoon and we’ll judge the manager’s renewed efforts to get our team playing on the front foot.
Deja vu. Here we go again. COYI!