West Ham Utd 2-2 West Bromwich Albion

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 11th February 2017

A last-gasp equaliser from Johnny Evans cruelly denied Slaven Bilic's side all three points in this afternoon's Premier League clash between the Hammers and Albion at the Olympic Stadium.

Evans struck with the game in the last of five added-on minutes to earn the Baggies a somewhat fortuitous point from a game which West Ham had largely dominated.

However it was the visitors who drew first blood when Nacer Chadli took advantage of some slack defending by the Hammers with just five minutes on the clock.

Mark Noble's poor pass out of defence was intercepted - with Sofiane Feghouli pleading for a foul, unjustifiably - and the Belgium international slipped the ball between stand-in right back Cheikhou Kouyate's legs before sliding it beyond Darren Randolph.




Salomon Rondon was inches away from doubling Albion's advantage shortly after having spotted Darren Randolph straying from his line; fortunately, on this occasion, the Irish international's blushes were spared by the crossbar.

West Ham - who had also gone close through Robert Snodgrass' free kick - thought they had drawn level on 17 minutes when Feghouli placed the ball into an empty net following a melee in the penalty box.




However referee Michael Oliver had other ideas and following brief consultation with his linesman, the goal was ruled out due to Michail Antonio - who clearly impeded Albion 'keeper Ben Foster moments later - being in an offside position (although whether he was 'active' is arguable).

With Bilic's Assistant Manager Nikola Jurcevic banished to the stands as a result of his protests, the Hammers pressed on but were unable to find an equaliser ahead of the half time interval.




Yet their determination finally paid off 18 minutes into the second half when Manuel Lanzini's fierce drive was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Foster, only to fall at the feet of an alert Feghouli who repeated his earlier finish to bring West Ham back to level terms.

Additional tweaks and changes from Bilic gave United the added impetus to push on for a winner - and they thought they'd landed it four minutes from the end of normal time when Lanzini found the net with a beautifully-placed effort from the edge of the penalty area.




But West Brom and Evans had other ideas; from a corner, which immediately followed an incorrectly-awarded throw-in, Randolph came to meet the ball but lost it in a sea of bodies and Evans, stationed at the far post nodded the ball into an empty net.

His protestations - which included picking up a fluffy microphone before hurling it to the floor - saw Bilic join his Assistant in the stands before the game had ended, leaving fans wondering exactly who will take the team at Watford a fortnight from now.

Bilic's dismissal, paired with Evan's goal ensured the game ended on a rather sour note, but it was an encouraging display nonetheless by the Hammers who were sadly once again left to rue more defensive errors.




West Ham Utd: Randolph, Kouyate, Fonte, Reid, Cresswell (Calleri 78), Feghouli (Collins 90), Noble, Obiang, Snodgrass (Fernandes 88), Antonio, Lanzini.

Subs not used: Adrian, Byram, Nordtveit, Fletcher.

Goals: Feghouli (63), Lanzini (86).

Bookings: Obiang, Reid.

West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Nyom, Dawson, McAuley, Brunt, Livermore, Fletcher; Chadli (Evans 52), Morrison (Yacob 78), Phillips (Robson-Kanu 67), Rondon.

Subs not used: Myhill; Olsson, M Wilson, McClean.

Goals: Chadli (5), Evans (90+5).

Bookings: Rondon, Brunt.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Tickets Sold: 56,983.

Attendance: tbc.

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