Carabao CupWest Ham United 3-0 Charlton Athletic
Tuesday, 15th September 2020
by Chris Wilkerson
West Ham ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at home to Charlton Athletic as the second round of the Carabao Cup provided David Moyes and his side their first win of the season.
With ten changes to the chastening Newcastle defeat that opened the season, only the shaky Issa Diop remained to face ex-Hammer Lee Bowyer?EUR(TM)s Charlton side.There were notable starts for Cullen, facing the side where he has spent the last two seasons on loan, and Robert Snodgrass, looking to regain fitness after recovering from the injury that saw him miss all the post-Covid football games of the 2019/20 season.
In a tournament that will certainly not take any priority this year, this was still a game you could sense was important for West Ham to win. With the horror opening game and the fixtures coming up, some sort of win, whoever the opposition, could be important.
Equally, the ten new starters were given the chance to impress in a side where clearly a lot of places are up for grabs.
The willingness to impress was notable in many, especially in the hard work of Lanzini, Cullen and Yarmolenko, all of whom were busy and mobile in their play.
The football was neat, tidy and controlled by the home side, as to be expected against a Charlton side who have had year after year of internal turmoil.
Yarmolenko saw a goal ruled out early on, bundling in a ricocheting ball in the box, all but rolling on the ground as he eventually poked it in and the referee finally chose to blow the whistle for a foul.
As they grew to take a full grip of the game, two goals came in quick succession, both for the Frenchman Haller.
The first was a simple tap-in. Cullen looped a ball over the Charlton defence and Yarmolenko ran from the right and across to the left side of the penalty area, letting it drop and passing it across the six yard box for Haller to side-foot the ball into an empty net.
Four minutes later, he had his second.
This time, Yarmolenko drifted into the middle of the Charlton half and took the ball on before laying it off to Snodgrass. He was given space to settle and time to deliver, a dangerous idea against the ever accurate Scotsman.
His cross was perfect for Haller, who rose above the Charlton defence and headed the ball back across goal and away from the despairing dive of Amos in the Charlton goal.
It allowed a comfortable rest of the half, Haller missing his hat-trick by inches when a Masuaku cross was driven too hard for the forward sliding in.
There was time for Randolph to drop a simple shot through his legs from a standing position and Masuaku to dazzle with some dribbling at pace, but the half closed without incident.
Charlton introduced Aneke at half time to add some presence to their attack, and the striker did make a difference.
He certainly made Balbuena?EUR(TM)s life more difficult, embarrassing the defender on a couple of occasions, the Paraguayan defending sloppily to allow Charlton two unnecessary chances.
Both were dealt with well by Randolph, a sharp half volley by Williams going down as Randolph?EUR(TM)s only real save.
It ended up as Charlton?EUR~s only real flirtation with a comeback, West Ham again settling into a controlled half and keeping the ball nicely. Soon Anderson?EUR(TM)s flicks were coming out and Lanzini was popping up in and around the box in tight spaces.
The Argentinean created one great chance for Yarmolenko in the area, the Ukrainian shooting wide from inside the area, whilst Johnson was flabbergasted to see a blatant handball in the area go unpunished, the Charlton defender basically just slapping a ball away.
Eventually the third did come. It was well deserved too, at least for Anderson who created the opening for Lanzini with a beautiful pass behind the Charlton defence.
Lanzini winded back and forth, left to right, right to left, and just as it seemed he?EUR(TM)d lost the chance, he stabbed the ball to the penalty spot where Felipe Anderson glided onto the ball and stroked it beyond the goalkeeper to tie the game up.
Coventry and debutant Harrison Ashby got ten minutes as the game ended, a nice note to end on as the Hammers took a comfortable victory and stepped into the third round of the Carabao Cup.
It was a comfortable win with good performances for players on the fringe of starting more competitive games.
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Darren RandolphDropped a shot through his own legs. Fumbled another really easy catch one second half. But did make two important, if comfortable, saves when called upon.
Ben Johnson
An easy night for Johnson, who mainly made runs to support the dribbling of Yarmolenko. Should have won a penalty.
Arthur Masuaku
It was all set up ideally for Masuaku. Very little defending, consistent chance to bomb forward. He did so with aplomb and looked dangerous all night. Definitely knocking on the door.
Issa Diop
Unbothered and barely tested, the scares really came from Balbuena.
Fabian Balbuena
Sloppy and sometimes hazardous. Not sure where the player from his first season has gone.
Josh Cullen
Created the first with a good forward pass, swept up when in front of the defence and made a vital interception in the area after the defence had allowed a runner through.
Robert Snodgrass
Faded as the game went on and was never quite as fast with the ball at his feet as Lanzini, Yarmolenko and Anderson, but good endeavour and lovely cross for the goal.
Manuel Lanzini
Busy and always involved, will probably feel a little annoyed he didn?EUR(TM)t score as he got into the area a few times, but got the assist for Anderson.
Andriy Yarmolenko
Looks to be working hard to force his way into the first eleven. Created Haller?EUR(TM)s first with an excellent run and perfect pass.
Felipe Anderson
Was one of the quieter players in the first half, but thrived as players tired. Has vision and his ball play looks a class above, but he slowed things down too much and rarely ran in behind. As ever.
Sebastien Haller
Scored as many tonight as he had in his last 19 games for West Ham. Probably should have had a hat trick but did well, the headed goal an excellent finish.
Substitutes
Conor Coventry(Replaced Snodgrass, 83) Passed neatly, simply and also tried to get stuck in. A short cameo
Harrison Ashby
(Replaced Johnson, 83) One run from deep into their area resulted in a good ball across with no reward.
David Martin
Did not play.
Ajibola Alese
Did not play.
Pablo Fornals
Did not play.
Jarrod Bowen
Did not play.
Xande Silva
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Darren Randolph, Ben Johnson, Arthur Masuaku, Issa Diop, Fabian Balbuena, Josh Cullen, Robert Snodgrass, Manuel Lanzini, Andriy Yarmolenko, Felipe Anderson, Sebastien Haller.Goals: Sebastien Haller 22 Sebastien Haller 26 Felipe Anderson 87 .
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
Charlton Athletic: Amos, Lapslie, Barker, Oshilaja, Purrington, Oztumer, Pratley (Gilbey 77), Levitt, Doughty, Williams (Washington 77), Bonne (Aneke 46).
Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Vennings, Morgan, Forster-Caskey.
Goals: .
Booked: .
Sent off: None.
Referee: Andre Marriner.
Attendance: 0.
Man of the Match: Josh Cullen.