A good result yesterday and a decent second half showing that got us over the line against a Leeds United team that by continually coming at you will always leave you a chance at their end, and that was their fatal error.
Kalvin Phillips as a DM ? Not for me. He too gets sucked in to the Bielsa attack, attack, attack philosophy, great to watch and were I neutral I would pop along to watch them, but their failure to shut up shop yesterday did for them.
In truth, despite us bossing much of the second half it was a little bit of a smash and grab. The home side dominated possession but we had more chances, although arguably they had better chances. Raphina I thought was the pick of their players, but we had two or three that had decent matches, Bowen, Antonio and Rice, and the industry and guile of those three were the difference.
Bowens "Billiards strike", where he deliberately played it off two defenders
to beat their keeper had a touch of good fortune but that's what happens when you run your socks off all game, you get the rub of the green.Our second though was a thing of beauty, the ball won deep in our half by Antonio, played forward to Rice who gave a Bonds style burst forward and played an inch perfect pass to the advancing Antonio, who took the ball and hooked it past the oncoming defender, skipped in behind him and ran through to coolly slot past their keeper. Truly, a great goal, and to do it in the 90th minute to break the hearts of the Leeds supporters was magnificent to watch.
Soucek will of course have nightmares about his error that led to their goal, and Zouma was properly schooled once or twice, beware, he has the turning circle of a battleship, but those were relatively minor issues in the end. The spirit and character of this current West Ham United team is such that it overcomes setbacks, a sure sign that the Manager and coaching staff are instilling a winning mentality in the players, backed by consistent selection, squad harmony and an understanding if you don't run you won't play.
Victory nearly always goes to the team that wants it more and that was true of yesterday, although we were helped by Marcello Bielsa's refusal to compromise on his beliefs, sometimes you just have to be a little bit Simeone. He wasn't and his team made the error.
Don Revie, Jack Charlton and Norman Hunters names adorn three sides of Elland Road they would have been mortified to see 8 players the wrong side of the ball with the game all square on 89 minutes. Our lads though were quick to spot and exploit the opportunity and less than 8 seconds after Leeds surrendered possession in our half, we had put the ball in their net.
Dirty Leeds ? Not anymore, and that's their problem.