Swansea 3 West Ham Utd 0

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 25th August 2012

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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