West Ham Utd 0-1 Burnley

  • by Staff Writer
  • Wednesday, 8th July 2020

West Ham are in deep trouble once again after a first half goal from Jay Rodriguez was enough to condemn David Moyes' side to defeat in Stratford.

The Hammers created 22 shots on goal without failing to score while the Clarets grabbed the only goal of the game seven minutes ahead of the half time interval to score all three points.


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It was a frustrating evening in east London as West Ham created the better chances but failed to make the most of them. Michail Antonio, Sebastien Haller and Tomas Soucek all spurned great chances to register on an evening when little went right for West Ham.

Meanwhile Burnley were lucky to end the game with ten men on the pitch after James Tarkowski's virtual assault on Jarrod Bowen was rewarded with a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver, despite most observers maintaining the defender should've been issued a red.

The in-form Soucek enjoyed West Ham's first major goalscoring opportunity just ahead of the half-hour mark but could only fire his volley from eight yards out straight at goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Shortly before the break Andriy Yarmolenko, restored to the starting XI for the first time since the resumption of the Premier League forced the 'keeper into a fine save low to his left, as his tipped the Ukrainian's effort round the post.


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Haller, introduced as a second half substitute should've scored within a minute of being introduced but his goal-bound effort was once again diverted away from goal by the foot of Pope, who unfortunately for West Ham was enjoying an excellent evening.

And in the end the only effort to cross the line was that of Rodriguez, who evaded the attentions of Aaron Cresswell before rising high to send a header crashing off the underside of the crossbar and over the line, despite Lukasz Fabianski's best efforts to prevent it from doing so.

David Moyes will no doubt come under much criticism for changing a side that had gained four points from the previous two outings against Chelsea and Newcastle, with Manuel Lanzini dropped in favour of Yarmolenko.

However he will no doubt point to the number of chances his team created in defence of his decision.

The defeat leaves West Ham four points clear of the relegation zone with three of their four remaining matches against fellow relegation candidates. This weekend's trip to Norwich now becomes a hug game for Moyes and his team, who remain a couple of wins shy of being safe from the drop.


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West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Yarmolenko (Haller 62), Fornals (Ajeti 87), Bowen, Antonio.

Subs not used: Randolph, Johnson, Masuaku, Balbuena, Wilshere, Noble, Lanzini.

Booked: Fredericks.

Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Long, Taylor, Pieters, McNeil, Westwood, Brownhill, Rodriguez, Vydra (Wood 58).

Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Gudmundsson, Brady, Thompson, Dunne, Benson, Goodridge, Driscoll-Glennon.

Goals: Rodriguez (38).

Booked: Tarkowski.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

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