Premier LeagueWest Ham United 2-2 Burnley
Sunday, 10th March 2024
by Chris Wilkerson
West Ham were held to a draw by 19th-placed Burnley at home this Sunday afternoon, an abysmal first half leaving Moyes's side with just too much to do as they recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.
The home side can curse bad luck and refereeing decisions once more, but again should look to themselves as they were again too fragile and easily cowed by an opponent comfortable on the ball across the park.Moyes made four changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Freiburg in Germany on Thursday evening, recalling Areola and bringing in Aguerd, Phillips and Cresswell for Zouma, Alvarez and the injured Emerson.
It meant no rest for Soucek, Coufal, or any of the front three as the manager chose not rotate too heavily for what should have been targeted as a very winnable fixture. Burnley are marooned in the relegation zone, aptly described as cannon fodder in the Premier League, and without a goal for just over five hours of football.
In constant rain, a slick surface punished West Ham's timid start, with passes quickly going astray and bad touches only looking worse on the skiddy pitch. Phillips was notably guilty, losing the ball with his first two passes.
If the crowd had expected a reaction from the loss in Germany, they were to be sorely disappointed as the first half passed the West Ham players by. They created next to nothing, and made their visitors look better than they are.
It was 45 minutes of the worst of Moyes's West Ham. The passing was ponderous, ambition down to a minimum, and a team that looked technically poorer than their opponents across the park.
The Hammers looked tired, certainly demotivated, and one had to question if the manager should have rotated more to enliven his forward line. Michail Antonio and Danny Ings sat on the bench.
10 minutes of good Burnley possession and fleeting moments of West Ham on the ball offered us a gentle start, but that was soon blown away by a David Datro Fofana thunderbolt.
The striker dropped deep to receive the ball and quickly turned to go at goal, showing a confidence on the ball that belied his team's struggles.
He tried the nutmeg on Aguerd, who barrelled out to follow him. It failed, but the ricochet off the defender's leg came back off Fofana and then between Aguerd and Phillips closing the striker down.
He skipped beyond them and chose to unleash an effort from a little over 20 yards out. He struck it beautifully, the ball curling a little away from him and the goalkeeper as it rifled into the top corner and gave his side the lead.
It was not one they particularly deserved, but it was a first real showing of a player taking a chance, looking forward and backing themselves to better their opponent. That was something which was very rare in the first half for both sides.
The West Ham crowd were becoming more and more frustrated as their side played slowly. Some will say caution, others bad form, but whatever your viewpoint, the team were not working as a collective, nor with any individuals.
James Ward-Prowse was one who drew much ire. The midfielder, who moved onto the wing halfway through the half to get Paquet?? central, offers safe passing and struggled to do anything with any forward ambition. With his side sitting a little too deep and rarely putting much consistent pressure on the Burnley back line in possession, his off-the-ball strengths were largely negated.
Drifting along, the only two moments of excitement for West Ham were built on promise more than delivery. It was a shame that one good move that got Coufal free down the right saw a cross directed just behind the run of Ward-Prowse in the box. Had it been in front of him, the midfielder likely taps in an easy chance. Instead, he had to slow and could only really let it hit his side.
The other brief rise from the crowd came from Mavropanos winning possession in the Burnley half and just carrying on his run forward. He drove down the left side of the box, but a wild shot flew harmlessly wide.
Something had to change, and West Ham looked basically to be hoping the half would end without further damage.
It could have, with a bit of composure. But as stoppage time started, with the ball on the left wing, Cullen burst forward on the overlap. You will see two or three West Ham players spot the run and choose not to react, leaving the former-Hammer free to make his run. The pass was played to him, and now the midfielder was in the box.
He played a low ball in the space between goalkeeper and defence, but it wouldn't be allowed to get through. Mavropanos had to stretch as long as his legs could to poke at the ball, a decision made in panic. As with many of his worse moments, that panicked choice was a bad one.
All the defender could do was just poke at full stretch at a ball rolling a few yards from his goal. Unsurprisingly, all he did was deflect the ball into the back of his own net, and without really doing anything, Burnley had a 2-0 lead at half-time.
There were boos as the crowd realised their side was 2-0 down, and louder and louder boos as the side trudged off two goals behind at the break.
The manager reacted, withdrawing two of the worst performers. Off went Phillips and Ward-Prowse - watched by Gareth Southgate today - to be replaced by Alvarez and Antonio. It pushed Kudus to the left, Bowen to the right and gave Paquet?? the chance to play in the middle, with Soucek and Alvarez behind him.
Burnley are unbeaten 28, now 29 Premier League games when leading at half-time, but it took West Ham only half a minute to get back into the game.
A high ball forward was headed down and central by the Burnley defence, and Paqueta managed to win the tussle with two defenders to the ball. Not only did he win possession, he touched it through and ran on to drive at goal, defenders giving chase.
There was no surprise to see the Brazilian comfortable and composed as he got into the area and passed it into the bottom corner as Trafford came out.
The supporters were up and buoyant, already enthused to see the manager's attacking changes. Now they were fully behind the team as they roared them forward. West Ham were on top now; Burnley looked lost as the home side flowed forward. It felt like only a matter of time.
But the final touch was missing, as was a bit of luck. They should have been level after a Cresswell corner hit Antonio and bounced loose, but as Bowen threw himself at the ball and smacked it at goal, he was thwarted by his own player as the ball smashed against Paquet?? right in front of goal, saving a shot that was flying in.
They did have to be wary of the Burnley break, with Fofana continuing to impress. He had the beating of Aguerd, like so many other centre forwards this season, and played with great confidence. He will be disappointed that he followed some impressive work on the edge of the box with a tame shot right at Areola.
Antonio was making a difference as he occupied defenders and thrived in the chaos. His work in the channels caused problems, with one drive and cross from the left creating an opening for Paquet??. The Brazilian curled just wide.
Whilst the quality was lacking to turn pressure into goals, the intent was there. The Hammers were a completely different proposition, committing numbers forward and creating openings.
Some were better than others, none better than the one Kudus missed with 25 minutes remaining. Another attack saw Bowen on the top right corner of the area. With a little space, he looked up and arrowed a diagonal ball to the far side of the box to Kudus.
His marker went down as the ball went over him, leaving Kudus with space. He darted inside the defender that rushed towards him, but he rushed the next part, swinging his right foot wildly at the ball and smashing over from six yards out.
It started to feel like one of those days. That feeling was exacerbated by the door behind the attack swinging open for Burnley to try and find that killer third goal.
Fofana was still the tyrant, beating Aguerd into the box and readying a shot, before a fantastic saving tackle from Alvarez. The Mexican is not only his team's best central midfielder, it's becoming more apparent that he may well be their best centre back, too.
These were brief respites in otherwise complete West Ham domination, but whereas a second goal felt inevitable for most of the half, time ticked away without one.
Chances didn't abate. Antonio got into the box and a couple of yards from goal at a tight angle and saw his effort blocked, Coufal saw a cross diverted onto the crossbar, and Soucek got clipped in on goal behind the defence, only to head meekly wide.
The frailty of individual defenders and West Ham's need for a goal combined well for Moyes's next substitution. Why keep Aguerd on if Alvarez is doing all his defending anyway? So, with just under 10 minutes to play, Ings replaced Aguerd, Alvarez went to centre back, and West Ham went as gung-ho as they could.
They thought it had worked within a few minutes. A freekick was taken short to Paquet??, and the Brazilian fired the ball direct at the chest of Antonio.
The striker did wonderfully to use that bulk and pivot as the ball hit him to guide it through the defence and through. Ings chased, Trafford dived out, but the striker was quicker and smarter, getting there first and dinking his finish up and over the body of the goalkeeper.
The London Stadium erupted, but the referee halted things before the Burnley kick off. VAR had an interest. It was a case of the harshness of video officiating. Half the shoulder of Antonio was ahead of the Burnley line, and the goal was ruled out.
But Ings wasn't done there. There's a reason he has maintained some support from the West Ham fanbase during this rather unsuccessful - individually, at least - spell at the club. He works hard and refuses to shirk. He could probably shuffle off, not bother and just collect his massive salary.
He doesn't, and this time, he got his reward.
It's Kudus squeezing a ball in from the left, blocked by a Burnley defender, but still diverting into the box. Ings controlled it at the near post with his back to goal and showed all the craft and guile that has made him such a renowned goalscorer in English football.
As the ball dropped, Ings swivelled on the spot as he met it with a strike, firing across goal. Trafford was beat and West Ham had another stoppage time goal against Burnley, this time to rescue a point.
Not that that point was so secure. Berge should have scored almost instantly as Burnley pushed down the other end and tried to get their win back.
It was, of course, the impressive Fofana who caused all the problems, fighting to win the ball and playing it inside the box to Brownhill. He rolled it to Berge in space at the edge of the box, but with time to pick his spot, he rushed and fired over.
Then it was back at the other end as a game that had barely awoken in the first half ended the second in breathless fashion. Antonio squeezed a ball across the face of the Burnley goal from the six-yard line, but could neither find corner nor Paquet??.
There were eight minutes of added-time, and in the sixth of them, Ings was robbed again. This time it was the crossbar haunting him, not an offside flag. A long freekick into the box was headed back from the far post and to the middle.
Just inside the box, Ings let it bounce and hit the ball on the drop, getting over the effort with beautiful technique. It roared at goal, but smacked the bar. Antonio could only hammer the rebound waywardly wide.
Ings then came to the rescue at the other end, taking the ball off of Fofana's toes as a low pass into the box rolled towards him in a great position. The drama just didn't seem to be stopping. Neither team wanted a point, a point that was of little value to either.
And then West Ham were denied a penalty with seconds remaining. A long throw into the box is met by the head of Berge, and the defender managed to head the ball down against his own outstretched arms.
The referee was unmoved, and the VAR agreed. It's impossible to know how far an accidental deflection goes, in terms of a definition. It is all that saved the midfielder and his side from facing a last-minute penalty. But when you make a deliberate action to head the ball and head it into your own arms, that are both stretched out in front of you in an unnatural position, can you really be blameless?
And still Burnley nearly went and won it.
Fofana, the clear man of the match today, took the ball down the right channel. He could have gone for the corner, but the Chelsea-loanee instead curled a cross low that Areola felt forced to dive out and push away. It fell to Cullen, who quickly squared to Berge, but he was closed down by goalkeeper and defender, and Areola blocked his shot to safety.
Finally, it ended. 45 minutes to completely forget was followed by pure chaos, as entertaining as it was breathless.
The Hammers will have to see this as two points dropped, given the opponents. But so would the visitors, two goals ahead, and leading until stoppage time. The point was enough to keep Moyes's side ahead of Brighton in 7th. It was nowhere near enough to give the manager a break this week.
Manager's Rating
David Moyes 5/10: The first half was abysmal. The recovery of the second half, which seemed to come from just throwing numbers up and going direct, isn't enough to recover how bad that first half was, how much of a mess his defence still looks, and a draw at home to an appalling Premier League team.
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Click to view all West Ham United vs Burnley match reports Click to view all match reports by Chris Wilkerson Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Alphonse AreolaNothing much he could do about either goal, then a couple big saves late on.
Vladimir Coufal
Got up and down the line all game, and wasn't at all given the support necessary from a Premier League team when Cullen overlapped on the first goal. He cannot control the dropping standards of the midfield there.
Aaron Cresswell
Corners were good, did chuck a couple good crosses in, but lacks the athleticism required in the role, even by West Ham standards.
Nayef Aguerd
Bettered and belittled by Fofana regularly. Needs something new, whether that be a new club or a new manager.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Whilst it was a little unlucky, it's also just another panicked and bad decision that sees him score that own goal. He does seem to struggle when the job isn't basic, ugly defending. He's very Craig Dawson, at times.
Kalvin Phillips
A couple cameos in recent matches made it look like he was adapting, but lacked any of that here. Doesn't seem to know where he's playing, misses simple passes and challenges, and generally isn't anywhere near the expected standard. Alvarez only made that more stark by doing every part of the role infinitely better.
Tomas Soucek
He's made a massive difference at both ends recently, but couldn't get a grip of the midfield and fluffed his lines in forwards areas.
James Ward-Prowse
He's taking a lot of misguided ire lately, being a bit slow is a criminal offence to some fans, but he was poor today. Just too safe in forward areas, although it is fair to say the team wasn't exactly full of great movement with Paqueta again poor in the first half and Emerson missing. Moving to the wing to get Paqueta central just highlighted his weaknesses.
Lucas Paqueta
A poor first half was recovered by a second half where he created chances, threatened goal and looked to be finding his form again.
Mohammed Kudus
Creates chances even when it feels like he isn't at his best, but did miss a massive chance.
Jarrod Bowen
Probably scores on another day - how unlucky did he have to be to hit his own player? - and never stopped pushing on. Created chances, and his quiet first half was arguably as down to poor service as anything else.
Substitutes
Michail Antonio(Replaced Ward-Prowse, 46) Getting sharper with more time, and probably why he should have started. There's a lot more finesse up there than his best days with us, and his unpredictability can cause chaos that both teams don't even know how to react to.
Edson Alvarez
(Replaced Phillips, 46) Night and day between him and Phillips. Knows the role, loves the defending, has fight and work ethic to go with defensive awareness.
Danny Ings
(Replaced Aguerd, 82) A great cameo. Deserved a hat-trick, probably saved a goal down the other end with just plain hard work. He'd have been forgiven for not being there and doing that, it wouldn't have been noticed, but he put the work in.
Lukasz Fabianski
Did not play.
Ben Johnson
Did not play.
Angelo Ogbonna
Did not play.
Kurt Zouma
Did not play.
George Earthy
Did not play.
Divin Mubama
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Nayef Aguerd, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Kalvin Phillips, Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen.Goals: Lucas Paqueta 46 Danny Ings 90 .
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
Burnley: Trafford, Assignon, O'Shea, Estève, Taylor, Berge, Cullen, Bruun Larsen (Brownhill 46), Vitinho (Gudmundsson 90+3), Odobert (Delcroix 68), Fofana.
Subs not used: Muric, Cork, Rodriguez, Manuel, Amdouni, Trésor, Delcroix.
Goals: Fofana (11), Mavropanos (45+1).
Booked: Assignon, Delcroix, Berge, Estève.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Darren England.
Attendance: 62,441.
Man of the Match: Danny Ings.