Swansea 3 West Ham Utd 0
Filed: Saturday, 25th August 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham suffered their first Premier League defeat since returning to the top flight - thanks to a pair of calamitous individual errors.
With Sam Allardyce having adopted a defensive approach, bringing in James Tomkins to play in front of a flat back four, United were cruising along nicely until two errors in the space of ten first-half minutes proved to be their undoing.
First to embarrass himself was goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen who somehow managed to turn Angel Rangel's 20th-minute cross into his own net after George McCartney was left flat-footed on the left side.
And just nine minutes later it was the turn of fellow new boy James Collins to hang his head in shame after his dreadful back pass allowed Swansea's Spanish striker Michu to nip in and slot the ball beyond a stranded Jaaskelainen.
Oddly enough it was West Ham - who looked a constant threat from set pieces in the first half- who had created the game's better chances up until that point.
And even after the Swans had surged into a two-goal lead West Ham forced the home side to clear the ball off the line twice as they attempted, ultimately in vain, to reduce the deficit ahead of the half-time whistle.
Unfortunately West Ham found goalkeeper Michel Vorm in the very best of form on the day - as new signing Matt Jarvis, making his first appearance for the Irons since his £10.75million switch from Wolves, discovered to his chagrin.
Just five minutes after Swansea has taken a two-goal lead Vorm produced a stunning save from Matt Jarvis' point blank volley when the winger looked odds-on to score.
Alas, for all of their first half pressure the Hammers were unable to find a way back into the game. That appeared to take its toll and in the second half there was only one team in it as Swansea threatened to rack up a cricket score.
Somehow, despite a plethora of chances they only managed to score once in the second half; that coming in the 64th minute when Danny Graham broke West Ham's ineffective offside trap - and not for the first time - before bundling the ball over the line.
However it was a harsh lesson for West Ham - who won 15 times away from the Boleyn ground last season - who will need to eradicate the silly mistakes if they are to enjoy a successful season back in the Premier League.
A full match report will follow soon...
Swansea 3 West Ham Utd 0: match facts
West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Reid, McCartney, Tomkins (Vaz Te 46), Noble, Nolan, Diame (Diarra 69), Jarvis, Cole (Maiga 62).
Subs not used: Henderson, O'Brien, Taylor, Maynard.
Booked: Cole (38), Nolan (53), Collins (58), Reid (83).
Possession: 46%.
Shots on/off target: 6/1 (7).
Corners: 4.
Fouls committed: 17.
Swansea City: Vorm, Rangel, Taylor (Davies 84), Chico, Williams, Routledge (Moore 81), De Guzman (Agustien 75), Britton, Dyer, Michu, Graham.
Subs not used: Tremmel, Tate, Dobbie, Gower.
Goals: Rangel (20), Michu (29), Graham (64).
Booked: Rangel (31), Chico (68).
Possession: 54%.
Shots on/off target: 7/3 (10).
Corners: 5.
Fouls committed: 13.
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Attendance: 20,424
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by Peter Richards
01:27PM 28th Aug 2012
''You can't win a game if you don't score any goals. We've struggled to score in both games so far. Are we just going to try and tough it out and hope the opposition makes a mistake for us to score? And if the opposition score first it's all over?
If Crewe nick a goal tonight we could be in trouble!
''
by David Mercer
08:56AM 26th Aug 2012
''As much as you must give Swansea respect playing Tomkins in midfield is so negative. As soon as you go a goal down it's game plan over. Be positive from the start; Diamme is already a holding midfielder, why have two!
Vaz Te and Jarvis down the flanks and Cole needed more support, even if we had lost why not give it a go? These are the games which will decide our season. I know it's early days but felt we threw it away with the wrong set up and the obvious errors.''
by John Rolls
05:04PM 25th Aug 2012
''Well here we go again; a West Ham with no passion, a lack of ideas and too many "I've made it to the Premier League so what?" players.
Ineffectual performances from the midfield (where is the creativity?) and where was the passion? Jarvis', fair play, had the beating of the right back. What an opportunity for Jarvis to exploit this but no, Big Sam moves him wide right. Diame and Diarra are much of a muchness and the defence looked decidedly shaky.
Sam, we need a creative midfielder; toil and bluster won't cut it in this league neither will a defence without a leader. We also need a Premier-quality 'keeper, the back line has no confidence in him.
It hurts me to say this but on this performance we will be cannon fodder for a half decent team and a tall striker.''
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