WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
2021-22 Premier League
Manager: David Moyes
West Ham United’s 2021/22 season stood as a testament to ambition, unity, and enduring grit. Under David Moyes’ stewardship, the Hammers balanced domestic consistency with a thrilling run in the UEFA Europa League, all while navigating a lean squad and a demanding fixture list.
Ahead of the season, West Ham bid farewell to several familiar faces. Paraguayan centre-back Fabián Balbuena departed for Dynamo Moscow and Felipe Anderson to Lazio, while fringe players like Oladapo Afolayan, Tunji Akinola, and Nathan Holland moved on to lower-league sides or loan spells.
In came a handful of strategic additions: Kurt Zouma (€35M from Chelsea) a commanding presence at centre-back, Nikola Vlašić (€30M from CSKA Moscow) a versatile attacking midfielder, Alphonse Areola (loan from PSG): provided competition in goal, Alex Král (loan from Spartak Moscow): added depth in midfield and Craig Dawson (permanent from Watford): cemented his cult status with resolute defending.
Finishing 7th in the league, West Ham defied expectations with scalps over Liverpool, Chelsea, and both Manchester clubs. Jarrod Bowen emerged as a revelation, contributing 18 goals and 13 assists, while Declan Rice anchored midfield with poise and power, earning Hammer of the Year honours.
But it was in the UEFA Europa League where dreams started to become reality. After topping their group, they dispatched: Sevilla: a 2–0 home win overturned the first-leg deficit, Lyon: a stunning 3–0 away victory in France and although the semi-final clash with Eintracht Frankfurt proved a bridge too far, the run rekindled continental pride and gave fans nights to remember.
Domestically, the Hammers knocked out Manchester United and Manchester City en route to the quarter-finals, before falling to Spurs and made a respectable FA Cup showing, all while juggling a demanding fixture list with a squad that never lacked heart.
The season also marked the emotional farewell of club captain Mark Noble, whose final home appearance against Manchester City was met with thunderous applause and teary tributes. His legacy, rooted in loyalty, leadership and the love for the badge.
Note:
Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United
NEWCASTLE UNITED
St. James' Park
4 - 2 (Cresswell 18', Benrahma 53', Soucek 63', Antonio 66')
7 August 2022
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Att: 50,673
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 47
West Han United won: 14, Drawn: 11, Lost: 22
Goals: 60, Against: 78
Antonio missed a penalty
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Yarmolenko)
Fornals
Benrahma (Fredericks)
Antonio (Johnson)
West Ham United roared back in the second half to overwhelm Newcastle United and triumph 4-2 in their Premier League opener at St James’ Park. Twice the east Londoners trailed to Newcastle headers in a see-saw first half, first to Callum Wilson and then to Jacob Murphy, but they kept going and ensured Aaron Cresswell’s equaliser in between would be built on.
David Moyes’ men emerged for the second half at real pace and had the game won before its mid-point. First Saïd Benrahma nodded home to level up for the second time of the contest, before quickfire goals from Tomáš Souček and Michail Antonio left a stunned Magpies side on the ropes.
It was a truly thrilling start to the campaign, as 3,000 Hammers high in the St James’ Park stands more than enjoyed their return to full houses in the Premier League.
Newcastle United:
Woodman, Fernández, Hayden, Clark, Krafth (Longstaff), Almirón, Shelvey (Fraser), Ritchie, Murphy, Wilson (Joelinton), Saint-Maximin
LEICESTER CITY
London Stadium
4 - 1 (Fornals 26', Benrahma 56', Antonio 80', 84')
23 August 2021
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 59,901
Kick-off: 8:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 29
West Ham United won: 14, Drawn: 6, Lost: 9
Goals: 47, Against: 37
League position: 1st
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Fornals
Benrahma (Noble)
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
West Ham United celebrated the return of a capacity crowd to London Stadium by storming to the top of the Premier League with a sensational 4-1 win over Leicester City.
The Hammers were at their very best on a celebratory night in east London, as 59,901 supporters returned home for the first time in 541 days. Pablo Fornals sent the West Ham fans wild by opening the scoring midway through the first half, before Saïd Benrahma made it two after Ayoze Pérez had been sent-off.
And, after Youri Tielemans had pulled one back for the Foxes, Michail Antonio ensured he would make history on this memorable evening, netting two second-half goals to break the Club’s all-time Premier League scoring record.
Leicester City:
Schmeichel, Pereira, Amartey, Söyüncü, Thomas, Ndidi, Tielemans, Pérez, Maddison (Soumaré), Barnes (Daka), Vardy (Iheanacho)
CRYSTAL PALACE
London Stadium
2 - 2 (Fornals 39', Antonio 68')
28 August 2021
Ref: Stuart Attwell
Att: 59,751
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 21
West Ham United won: 8, Drawn: 7, Lost: 6
Goals: 36, Against: 29
League position: 1st
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Lanzini)
Fornals (Yarmolenko) Benrahma
Antonio
West Ham United maintained their unbeaten start to the season but were twice pegged back in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at London Stadium. The Hammers struck first through Pablo Fornals shortly before the break, and although Conor Gallagher levelled for the visitors on 58 minutes, Michail Antonio’s fourth goal of the season ten minutes later had home fans dreaming of a third straight win.
However, Gallagher had other ideas, scoring his second goal of the afternoon just two minutes later and ensuring the spoils would be shared in East London.
Crystal Palace:
Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell, Gallagher, Kouyaté, McArthur (Schlupp), Ayew, Benteke, Zaha
SOUTHAMPTON
St Mary's Stadium
0 - 0
11 September 2021
Ref: David Coote
Att: 27,861
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 39
West Ham United won: 19, Drawn: 9, Lost: 11
Goals: 58, Against: 41
Antonio sent-off 90 mins
League position: 6th
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Yarmolenko)
Fornals
Benrahma (NIKOLA VLASIC)
Antonio
West Ham United’s unbeaten start to the 2021/22 season continued with a 0-0 draw at Southampton. Neither team could find a way through on the South Coast, with both enjoying spells when they were on the front foot, but a point was probably fair in the end.
After Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen brought second half saves from Alex McCarthy, the Saints did end the stronger though with substitute Armando Broja twice going desperately close.
He first hit the post from outside the box, then had a header cleared off the line by Declan Rice, while Antonio was dismissed for picking up his second yellow card right at the end.
Southampton:
McCarthy, Livramento, Stephens, Salisu, Perraud, Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Romeu (Diallo), Djenepo, Redmond, A.Armstrong (Broja)
GNK DINAMO ZAGRB (Croatia) Europa League (Group H)
Stadion Maksimir
2 - 0 (Antonio 21', Rice 50')
16 September 2021
Ref: Ruddy Buquet
Att: 12,344
Fabianski
Fredericks
KURT ZOUMA
Diop
Cresswell
Rice (Noble)
Soucek
Lanzini (Benrahma)
Vlasic (Bowen)
Fornals (Masuaku)
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
Goals from Michail Antonio and Declan Rice gave West Ham United the perfect start to their UEFA Europa League campaign at Dinamo Zagreb. The Hammers claimed the points with a strike in each half, as Antonio took advantage of an error from home defender Kévin Théophile-Catherine to open the scoring, before Declan Rice’s solo run made the second.
West Ham were well in control for much of the contest, quelling Dinamo’s threat as they searched for a route back into the contest in the second period and a second straight clean sheet ensured the three points would be theirs. West Ham may be relative novices when it comes to European competition – this was their first tie, excluding qualifiers, since 2006 – but they began the game in composed fashion. Indeed, they got on the ball early and forced four corners before the game was even ten minutes old.
Their reward came in the shape of a gift-wrapped goal in the 21st minute. Former Cardiff City defender Théophile-Catherine will not want to watch it again, as his back pass was left too short for goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, allowing Antonio to nip in, beat him to the ball and poke into the unguarded net.
Dinamo responded strongly at the start of the second half and Bruno Petković gave the Hammers a 47th minute scare when he shot wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the box.
It was only a momentary scare, though, as Rice doubled the lead just three minutes later. It was a goal all of the captain’s making, too, as he made an interception on halfway, showed strength to hold off the challenge and simply take off. Nobody could catch him as the No41 strode clear in the left hand channel and he ended the run by slipping the ball through Livaković’s legs to make it 2-0. The perfect way to make his 150th appearance in Claret & Blue.
Dinamo Zagreb:
Livaković, Šutalo, Théophile-Catherine (Jurić), Lauritsen, Ristovski (Moharrami), Ademi, Mišić (Tolić), Franjić, Ivanušec (Menalo), Oršić (Gojak), Petković
NO PROGRAMME ISSUED (Pirate copy)
MANCHESTER UNITED
London Stadium
1 - 2 (Benrahma 30')
19 September 2021
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Att: 59,958
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 51
West Ham United won: 7, Drawn: 13, won: 31
Goals: 46, Against: 101
Noble missed pen 95
League position: 8th
Fabianski
Coufal
Zouma
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Fornals
Vlasic (Yarmolenko)
Benrahma (Lanzini)
Bowen (Noble)
West Ham United’s unbeaten start to the 2021/22 season came to a dramatic end against Manchester United. Having led in the first half through Saïd Benrahma’s third goal of the season, the Hammers were then pegged back by Cristiano Ronaldo’s swift leveller.
As time ticked away in the second half, it looked as though 1-1 would be how the contest would conclude, until Jesse Lingard struck the winner in the 89th minute on his return to east London.
There could still have been a final twist in the tale, though, as West Ham were awarded a penalty in the final minute of added time, only for Mark Noble to suffer a rare miss from the spot.
Manchester United:
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Varane, Shaw, McTominay, Fred (Matic), Greenwood (Sancho), Fernandes, Pogba (Lingard), Ronaldo
MANCHESTER UNITED : FL Cup (Third Round)
Old Trafford
1 - 0 (Lanzini 9')
22 September 2021
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 72,568
ALPHONSE AREOLA
Fredericks (Coufal)
Diop
Dawson
Johnson
Masuaku (Vlasic)
Noble
ALEX KRAL
Lanzini (Fornals)
Yarmolenko Bowen
West Ham United produced an outstanding counter-attacking display to progress to the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
A much-changed Irons team were staunch in their defending, diligent in their shape and – when it ultimately mattered, in the ninth minute – decisive with their finishing, Manuel Lanzini firing home the winner after being picked out by Ryan Fredericks. The Red Devils attempted to mount the pressure in the second half but were largely restricted to efforts from range, with West Ham centre-backs Craig Dawson and Issa Diop particularly impressive in their consistent repelling of balls into the box.
The Irons even had chances to close out the game on the counter-attack in injury time, but Andriy Yarmolenko struck the post from close range and Mark Noble saw an effort saved by Dean Henderson after running clean in on goal. Nevertheless, the result saw West Ham claim a measure of revenge for their Premier League loss to the same opponents three days prior, Lanzini's goal sealing the Irons' first win at Old Trafford since May 2007.
Manchester United:
Henderson, Dalot, Lindelof, Bailly, Telles (Elanga), Matic, Van de Beek, Sancho, Mata (Greenwood), Lingard (Fernandes), Martial
LEEDS UNITED
Elland Road
2 - 1 (Firpo [og '67], Antonio 90')
25 September 2021
Ref: Kevin Friend
Att: 36,417
Fabianski
Coufal
Zouma
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Dawson)
Benrahma
Fornals (Vlasic)
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 27
West Ham United United won: 8, Drawn: 11, Lost: 8
Goals: 33, Against: 28
League position: 7th
A late Michail Antonio goal propelled West Ham United to a 2-1 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road. Raphinha’s driven effort gave the hosts the lead after just twenty minutes, but the Hammers hit back through a deflected Jarrod Bowen effort – that was later awarded as an own goal by Junior Firpo - and a 90th minute Antonio winner to claim the three points. The victory sees David Moyes side climb to seventh in the Premier League table after just six games.
Leeds United:
Meslier, Dallas, Cresswell, Cooper, Firpo, Phillips, Shackleton (Summerville), Klich, Raphinha (Roberts), James (Harrison), Rodrigo
RAPID VIENNA (Austria) Europa League (Group H)
London Stadium
2 - 0 (Rice 29', Benrahma 90+4')
30 September 2021
Ref: Tobias Stieler
Att: 50,004
Areola
Johnson
Dawson
Diop
Cresswell
Noble (Soucek)
Rice
Yarmolenko
Benrahma
Vlasic (Lanzini)
Antonio (Bowen)
Goals from Declan Rice and Saïd Benrahma gave West Ham United a 2-0 victory over Rapid Vienna in their home UEFA Europa League Group H opener. The Hammers extended their perfect start to life in Europe with the victory, building on their win in Zagreb with a second straight 2-0 success, with Rice on target in both matches.
It was Rice who opened the scoring in front of over 50,000 Hammers at London Stadium, touching home from close range after being teed up by Michail Antonio. Rapid asked more questions of the hosts, who had been comfortable in their lead, after the interval and saw VAR intervene to rule out a penalty award 20 minutes from time, before Benrahma wrapped up the points in injury time.
Rapid Vienna:
Gartier, Aiwu, Greiml (Stojković), Wimmer, Ullmann (Auer), Petrović (Lubicic), Grahovac, Arase, Khasmüllner, Fountas (Grüll), Kara (Kitagawa)
BRENTORD
London Stadium
1 - 2 (Bowen 80')
3 October 2021
Ref: Peter Banks
Att: 59,939
Fabianski
Coufal
Zouma
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Fornals
Benrahma
Antonio
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 1
West Ham United won: 0, Drawn: 0, Lost: 1
Goals: 1, Against: 2
League position: 9th
Brentford’s Yoane Wissa scored with virtually the last kick of the game to inflict an unfortunate 2-1 defeat on West Ham United at London Stadium. A fiercely contested London derby – the first-ever top-flight meeting between these two sides, and their first competitive fixture since April 1993 – saw the visitors start the brighter and open the scoring with a quarter of the game gone, Bryan Mbeumo sliding in after Lukasz Fabianski had tipped Sergi Canos’ initial effort away from goal.
Although Mbeumo’s effort initially appeared to have also been saved by Fabianski, the Goal Decision System judged the whole of the ball to have crossed the whole of the line, and Brentford - at that point - deservedly led.
West Ham grew into the game, however, and after missing a series of clear opportunities at the start of the second half, deservedly equalised when Jarrod Bowen slammed home a crisp low volley with ten minutes to go.
There only looked to be one winner from thereon out, but a late lapse of concentration saw Wissa slam home a bouncing volley in the fourth minute of injury time after Fabianski saved a header from Pontus Jansson – the last kick of the game snatching all three points for Brentford.
Brentford:
Raya, Jansson, Zanka, Pinnock, Canós, Nørgaard, Baptiste (Jensen), Onyeka (Bidstrup), Henry, Toney, Mbeumo (Wissa)
EVERTON
Goodison Park
1 - 0 (Ogbonna 74')
17 October 2021
Ref: Kevin Friend
Att: 39,132
Fabianski
Johnson
Zouma
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek (Dawson)
Bowen (Yarmolenko)
Fornals
Benrahma (Lanzini)
Antonio
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 51
West Ham United won: 11, Drawn: 13, Lost: 27
Goals: 47, Against: 87
League position: 7th
Angelo Ogbonna’s late header secured a return to winning ways for West Ham in the Premier League, defeating Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park. A performance full of hard work and endeavour did not appear set to be capped by the goal it warranted at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon until the Italian centre-back, attacking Jarrod Bowen’s corner at the near post, headed the ball across goal and into the far corner with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining on the clock.
Everton pressed forwards in the closing minutes in search of an equaliser, but it was the team in Claret and Blue who created the clearer opportunities on the break while remaining defensively sturdy.
As it was, Ogbonna’s late header was enough to secure back-to-back Premier League victories at Goodison Park for West Ham for the first time in 63 attempts, and for the first occasion since 1930 – a feat which sees them move up to sixth in the table.
Everton:
Pickford, Coleman, Godfrey, Keane, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Gray, Townsend, Iwobi (Gordon), Rondon
KRC GENK (Belgium) Europa League (Group H)
London Stadium
3 - 0 (Dawson 45+1', Diop 57', Bowen 58')
21 October 2021
Ref: Donatas Rumsas
Att: 45,980
Areola
Johnson
Dawson
Diop
Cresswell (Fredericks)
Rice (Noble)
Soucek
Yarmolenko
Lanzini (DANIEL CHESTERS)
Vlasic (Fornals)
Bowen (Benrahma)
Goals from Craig Dawson, Issa Diop and Jarrod Bowen saw West Ham United record a comfortable 3-0 win over Belgian side KRC Genk at London Stadium. The result saw manager David Moyes' Irons become the first West Ham side to win their first three games, and keep three consecutive clean sheets, at the start of a European season proper.
As a result of their victory, West Ham move onto nine points - six clear of their three opposing sides in Group H, and just three away from securing a place in the next stage of the competition at the first time of asking.
KRC Genk:
Vandevoordt, Preciado, Cuesta (Sadick), Lucumi, Arteaga, Thorstvedt (Toma), Hrošovský, Heynen, Bongonda (Trésor), Onuachu (Ugbo), Ito (Oyen)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
London Stadium
1 - 0 (Antonio 72')
24 October 2021
Ref: Paul Tierney
Att: 59,924
Fabianski
Johnson
Zouma
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Dawson)
Benrahma (Lanzini)
Fornals
Antonio
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 51
West Ham United won: 17, Drawn: 10, Lost: 24
Goals: 61, Against: 73
League position: 4th
Michail Antonio returned to haunt Tottenham Hotspur yet again as West Ham United roared back into the Premier League’s top four at a sold-out London Stadium. Antonio’s third matchwinner against Spurs following his memorable deciders at the Boleyn Ground in 2016 and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019 settled a competitive, if not classic, derby in the Irons’ favour.
The goal arrived 18 minutes from the end, when the No9 stole a march on Harry Kane to volley home Aaron Cresswell’s left-wing corner and secure a victory that took the Irons above their opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United in the table.
West Ham now have 17 points from their opening nine matches and have won nine of their opening 13 games in all competitions, losing just two.
Tottenham Hotspur:
Lloris, Emerson Royal, Dier, Romero, Reguilón (Gil), Højbjerg, Skipp, Lucas Moura (Bergwijn), Ndombele (Lo Celso), Son, Kane
MANCHESTER CITY : FL Cup (Fourth Round)
London Stadium
0 - 0
27 October 2021
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 59,902
Areola
Johnson
Diop
Dawson
Cresswell
Noble
Soucek
Vlasic (Benrahma)
Lanzini (Coufal)
Masuaku (Fornals)
Yarmolenko (Bowen)
West Ham United became the first team to eliminate Manchester City from the Carabao Cup since October 2016, progressing to the quarter-finals after a tense 0-0 draw and a dramatic 5-3 victory on penalty kicks.
The Hammers were faultless from the spot in their first competitive shootout since July 2015, with Mark Noble, Jarrod Bowen, Craig Dawson, Aaron Cresswell and Said Benrahma all converting from 12 yards to ensure Phil Foden’s first-penalty miss was suitably capitalised upon.
Prior to that, another fully-blooded 90-minute display from David Moyes’ men – in which both teams threatened, without creating too much by way of chances at London Stadium – saw the Irons once again shut out a much-fancied Manchester club.
Manchester City:
Steffen, Walker (João Cancelo), Stones, Aké, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Gündoğan, Palmer (Gabriel Jesus), De Bruyne (Grealish), Mahrez (Foden), Sterling
ASTON VILLA
Villa Park
4 - 1 (Johnson 7', Rice 38', Fornals 80', Bowen 84')
31 October 2021
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Att: 41,874
Fabianski
Johnson
Zouma
Ogbonna
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Coufal)
Benrahma (Lanzini)
Fornals (Vlasic)
Antonio
Kick-off: 4:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 45
West Ham United won: 12, Drawn: 20, Lost: 13
Goals: 49 goals, Against: 50
League position: 4th
West Ham United maintained their unbeaten away record in 2021/22 with a dismantling of ten-man Aston Villa. David Moyes’ side notched twice either side of the break to record a 4-1 win and move level on points with third-placed Manchester City. Never before in our Premier League history have we had 20 points from the first ten games of a campaign.
After Ben Johnson fired the Hammers into an early lead, the home side flickered with Ollie Watkins’ leveller, only for Declan Rice to quickly restore the advantage. Ezri Konsa’s red card early in the second half hampered his team’s efforts, although they did keep pushing until the Hammers took the contest away from them in the closing stages through goals from Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen.
Aston Villa:
Martínez, Cash, Hause, Konsa, Targett, Nakamba, McGinn, J.Ramsey (Young), Buendia (Mings), Bailey (El Ghazi), Watkins
KRC GENK (Belgium) Europa League (Group H)
Cegeka Arena
2 - 2 (Benrahma 59', 82')
4 November 2021
Ref: Alexander Standev
Att: 12,239
NO PROGRAMME ISSUED (Pirate copy)
Areola
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Cresswell
Noble (Soucek)
Rice
Benrahma
Lanzini (Kral)
Masuaku (Fornals)
Antonio (Bowen)
West Ham United maintained their unbeaten record in the UEFA Europa League with an action-packed 2-2 draw in Genk. In David Moyes’ 1,000th game in football management, he witnessed his side recover from the blow of falling behind early in the piece to Joseph Paintsil’s goal to give a much improved second half performance and move in front thanks to Saïd Benrahma’s double.
Maximum points seemed in the Hammers’ grasp, only for Tomáš Souček’s late own goal to level it up and give Genk the draw they probably deserved for an enterprising first half display.
KRC Genk:
Vandevoordt, Muñoz (Ugbo), Sadick, Lucumi, Arteaga, Heynen, Thorstvedt (Preciado), Paintsil (Oyen), Hrošovsky, Ito, Onuacho
LIVERPOOL
London Stadium
3 - 2 (Becker [og 4'], Fornals 67', Zouma 74')
7 November 2021
Ref: Craig Pawson
Att: 59,909
Kick-off: 4:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 51
West Ham United won: 10, Drawn: 10, Lost: 31
Goals: 48 goals, Against: 98 goals
League position: 3rd
Fabianski
Johnson
Zouma
Ogbonna (Dawson)
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Coufal)
Benrahma (Masuaku)
Fornals
Antonio
West Ham United leapfrogged Liverpool and moved up to third in the Premier League table with an impressive 3-2 win at a raucous London Stadium. Ending a demanding period of seven fixtures in the space of 22 days across three competitions unbeaten - a splendid feat in itself - Pablo Fornals’ breakaway goal and Kurt Zouma’s first West Ham goal were enough to see the Hammers come out on top in an open-ended second half after Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick had cancelled out Alisson Becker’s own-goal early in the first half.
Divock Origi pulled a goal back late on for Liverpool, but West Ham deserved the three points for an awesome show of character which resulted in them inflicting a first defeat on the visitors in the Premier League this season and end Liverpool's unbeaten run of 25 games prior.
Liverpool:
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho (Minamino), Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Thiago), Salah, Diogo Jota (Origi), Mané
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Molineux
0 - 1
25 November 2021
Ref: Mike Dean
Att: 30,667
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 11
West Ham United won: 4, Drawn: 1, Lost: 6
Goals: 13 goals, Against: 15 goals
League position: 4th
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Yarmolenko) Benrahma (Vlasic)
Fornals (Lanzini)
Antonio
West Ham United tasted defeat on the road for the first time this season as Raúl Jiménez’s second half goal gave Wolverhampton Wanderers a 1-0 win at Molineux.
The hosts took advantage of a below-par display from the Hammers, who started brightly but were unable to regain control once Wolves took over.
Daniel Podence twice went close for the home side before Jiménez got his goal – and that solitary strike proved enough to keep the points in the Midlands.
Wolverhampton Wanderers:
Sá, Kilman, Coady, Saïss, Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Aït-Nouri, Podence (Traoré), Hwang (Denconcker), Jiménez
RAPID VIENNA (Austria) Europa League (Group H)
Allianz Stadion
2 - 0 (Yarmolenko 39', Noble [pen 45+2'])
25 November 2021
Ref: Sergei Ivanov
Att: 0 [Played behind closed doors]
NO PROGRAMME ISSUED (Pirate copy)
Areola
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Masuaku (Fredericks)
Noble
Soucek (Kral)
Lanzini (Fornals)
Vlasic (SONNY PERKINS)
Yarmolenko
Bowen (Benrahma)
West Ham United delivered another excellent away performance to secure top spot in their first-ever UEFA Europa League group stage campaign, seeing off the challenge of Rapid Vienna in a comfortable 2-0 win in Austria.
In a behind-closed-doors match played in freezingly cold conditions at Allianz Stadion, David Moyes’ Irons dominated the ball, aware that a victory would see them secure first place in Group H and – with it – direct progression to the competition’s Round of 16, avoiding a play-off round fixture against a club dropping out of the UEFA Champions League.
A cagey game was opened up five minutes before the half-time whistle when Nikola Vlašić – lively throughout – supplied a delightful high cross which Andriy Yarmolenko rose high to head home from close range for the Ukrainian's first goal of the season.
And the points were all but sealed in first-half stoppage time when Yarmolenko’s quick thinking won his side a penalty kick which captain Mark Noble stepped up to guide home with typical precision.
Rapid Vienna:
Gartler, Hofmann, Aiwu, Moorman, Petrovic, Ljubicic (Grahovac), Arase (Ballo), Knasmullner (Grüll), Fountas (Strunz), Kitagawa (Kara
MANCHESTER CITY
Etihad Stadium
1 - 2 (Lanzini 90+4')
28 November 2021
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 53,245
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 41
West Ham United won: 9, Drawn: 7, Lost: 25
Goals: 38, Against: 73 goals
League position: 4th
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell (Coufal)
Rice
Soucek
Benrahma (Lanzini)
Fornals
Masuaku (Bowen)
Antonio
West Ham United were edged out 2-1 by Manchester City at a snowy Etihad Stadium on Sunday, as goals from Ilkay Gündoğan and Fernandinho meant Manuel Lanzini’s injury time strike was a mere consolation.
The Hammers gave a solid performance in defence in Manchester, but found it tough to fashion clear chances at the other end as Pep Guardiola’s men managed the game with sustained possession to inflict just a second away defeat of the season on the Hammers.
Manchester City:
Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Gündoğan, Rodri, Silva, Sterling (Fernandinho), Mahrez, Jesus
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
London Stadium
1 - 1 (Soucek 5')
1 December 2021
Ref: Chris Kavangh
Att: 56,626
Fabianski
Coufal
Zouma
Dawson
Johnson
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Fornals (Masuaku)
Benrahma (Lanzini)
Antonio
Kick-off: 7:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 9
West Ham United won: 0, Drawn: 6, Lost: 3
Goals: 11, Against: 17 goals
League position: 4th
West Ham United drew 1-1 with Brighton at the London Stadium after Tomas Soucek’s early opener was cancelled out by a late overhead kick from Neal Maupay. The ever-reliable Soucek, who scored an all-important equaliser when Brighton visited the London Stadium last season, headed the Irons ahead in the fifth minute.
But Maupay’s goal in the 89th minute sank Hammers’ hearts to deny them all three points and strengthen their hold on a place in the top four. The Hammers extended their lead over fifth-place Arsenal, who now sit one point adrift ahead of their game against Manchester United on Thursday, but will rue the fact the gap is not now up to three.
As bogey teams go, no side has caused West Ham more headaches in the Premier League than Brighton: the Irons are still winless against the Seagulls since their promotion, losing three and drawing the last six after this 1-1 tie.
Brighton & Hove Albion:
Sanchez, Veltman (Lamptey), Webster (Duffy), Dunk, Cucurella, Moder, Bissouma, Lallana, Sarmiento (March), Trossard, Maupay
CHELSEA
London Stadium
3 - 2 (Lanzini [pen 40'], Bowen 56', Masuaku 87')
4 December 2021
Ref: Andre Marriner
Att: 59,942
Kick-off: 12:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 51
West Ham United won: 15, Drawn: 9, Lost: 27
Goals: 50, Against: 89
League position: 4th
Fabianski
Dawson
Zouma (Fornals)
Diop
Coufal
Rice
Soucek
Johnson (Masuaku)
Bowen
Lanzini (Benrahma)
Antonio
West Ham United twice came from behind to secure a memorable derby victory over Chelsea at London Stadium. The Hammers had to show their mettle against the league leaders, fighting back after Thiago Silva and Mason Mount twice gave them the lead.
David Moyes’ men spirit and character has never been in question and they showed it in bundles once again, levelling first through Manuel Lanzini’s penalty and then Jarrod Bowen’s low strike.
That set the scene for Arthur Masuaku to win it in style late on, as his cross-shot flew in at the near post to give his team another huge three points.
Chelsea:
Mendy, Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rüdiger, James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Alonso (Pulisic), Ziyech (Hudson-Odoi), Mount, Havertz (Lukaku)
GNK DINAMO ZAGREB (Croatia) Europa League (Group H)
London Stadium
0 - 1
9 December 2021
Ref: Maurizo Mariani
Att; 49,401
Areola
Ashby
Baptiste
Alese
Longelo
Noble
Kral
Yarmolenko (FREDDIE POTTS)
Fornals (Benrahma)
Vlasic
Perkins (KEENAN APPIAH-FORSON)
West Ham United’s Academy of Football prospects did the Club proud as no fewer than eight featured in a 1-0 UEFA Europa League Group H defeat by GNK Dinamo Zagreb. Five youngsters started alongside captain Mark Noble and two more were introduced from the substitutes’ bench on a memorable Thursday evening in front of nearly 50,000 supporters at London Stadium.
The Hammers went into the game unbeaten in their opening five ties but, with progress direct to the round of 16 already assured, David Moyes opted to rest many of his regular starters against a Dinamo side who knew a point would take them through to the play-off round after Christmas.
And, after Croatia international forward Mislav Oršić’s spectacular third-minute opener, the visitors held on for the points they needed to go through.
But, in truth, the final score did not matter, as Moyes gave European debuts to five Academy players - Aji Alese, Harrison Ashby, Emmanuel Longelo, Jamal Baptiste and Sonny Perkins.
GNK Dinamo Zagreb:
Livaković, Šutalo, Théophile-Catherine, Perić, Ristovski, Ademi (Bulat), Gojak, Štefulj (Dilaver), Ivanušec, Andrić (Jurić), Oršić (Mišić)
BURNLEY
Turf Moor
0 - 0
12 December 2021
Ref: Graham Scott
Att: 18,065
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Masuaku
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Lanzini (Fornals)
Benrahma (Vlasic)
Antonio
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 15
West Ham United won: 8, Drawn: 2, Lost: 5
Goals: 21, Against: 20
League position: 4th
West Ham United and Burnley shared the points from a goalless draw at Turf Moor. West Ham tested home stopper Nick Pope with headers from Issa Diop and Saïd Benrahma, while Craig Dawson had a penalty shout waved away, but Burnley defended strongly to keep their visitors out.
With 26 minutes on the clock, only a fine reaction save from Pope prevented Diop from heading the Hammers into the lead. The defender got across his man at the near post to meet Jarrod Bowen’s whipped-in free-kick with a flicked header, but Pope stuck out a strong right hand to push it away.
Eight minutes before the break, West Ham thought they should have had a penalty when Dawson, shepherding the ball out for another corner, was caught by McNeil. VAR Jonathan Moss took a look, but backed up referee Graham Scott’s decision and the interval came with the deadlock unbroken.
As in the opening period, Burnley created the first chance of the second half, as Jay Rodriguez turned Matt Lowton’s cross goalwards. Thankfully for the Hammers, Dawson was in the way to block.
At the other end, Pope was fully extended by a Benrahma header on 54 minutes, diving to his right to claw the effort away after Declan Rice’s low cross popped up off a defender’s foot at an inviting height for the Algerian. The Hammers continued to probe, looking for a route to goal down the flanks, but Burnley were defending their box well and cutting out the plentiful supply of crosses into their box.
Declan Rice tried his luck from outside the box six minutes from time with a fierce effort which brushed the top of the net, but ultimately there was no way through.
Burnley:
Pope, Lowton, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor, McNeil (Lennon), Westwood (Brownhill), Cork, Gudmundsson, Wood (Vydra), Rodriguez
ARSENAL
Emirates Stadium
0 - 2
15 December 2021
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Att: 59,777
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Masuaku
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Lanzini (Benrahma)
Fornals (Ashby)
Antonio
West Ham United were leapfrogged by Arsenal in the Premier League table following a 2-0 defeat at the home of their North London rivals. Clinical finishes at the start and end of a fiercely-contested second half ultimately proved the Hammers' undoing in a match they finished with ten men, following a contentious second yellow card for Vladimír Coufal midway through the period.
Gabriel Martinelli had raced clear to roll the ball past Lukasz Fabianski two minutes after half-time, the Pole later superbly saving Alexandre Lacazette's penalty kick having earlier turned Kieran Tierney's volley onto the crossbar.
The dismissal made West Ham's task all the more difficult in the closing stages as they sought a route back into the match, and Emile Smith Rowe eventually netted the home side's second goal on the counter attack late on, condemning the Hammers to defeat in David Moyes' 600th Premier League game as a manager.
Arsenal:
Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Ødegaard (Smith Rowe), Martinelli (Nketiah), Lacazette
Kick-off: 8:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 51
West Ham United won: 8, Drawn: 10, Lost: 33
Goals: 38, Against: 96
Fabianski saved a penalty 69
Coufal sent-off 90 mins
League position: 5th
David Moyes' 600th game in the Premier League in his managerial career (won 236, lost 203).
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : FL Cup (Fifth Round)
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
1 - 2 (Bowen 32')
22 December 2021
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Att: 40,031
Areola
Ashby (Yarmolemko)
Johnson
Dawson
Diop
Masuaku
Rice
Soucek
Lanzini (Fornals)
Vlasic (Benrahma)
Bowen
West Ham United's 2021/22 Carabao Cup campaign came to a close in the fifth round with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. The Hammers put in a positive performance and provided the majority of the attacking thrust at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, seeking their first spot in the competition's semi-finals since 2013/14.
But David Moyes' team came out on the wrong end of a madcap quickfire exchange of chances and goals midway through the first half in which Steven Bergwijn side-footed the hosts ahead, Jarrod Bowen turned and finished neatly for the Hammers moments later - and, almost immediately afterwards, Lucas Moura restored the hosts' advantage from close range.
West Ham toiled and fought for a route back into the tie in a tighter second half, but came up against Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in inspired form, ultimately unable to find a second equaliser.
Tottenham Hotspur:
Lloris, Doherty (Tanganga) , Sanchez, Dier, Davies, Reguilon (Royal), Skipp (Dele), Hojbjerg, Lucas Moura (Winks), Bergwijn (Son), Kane
SOUTHAMPTON
London Stadium
2 - 3 (Antonio 49', Benrahma 64')
26 December 2021
Ref: Kevin Friend
Att: 41,027
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Masuaku
Rice
Soucek
Fornals (Lanzini)
Benrahma (Yarmolenko)
Vlasic (Antonio)
Bowen
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 40
West Ham United won: 19, Drawn: 9, Lost: 12
Goals: 60, Against: 44
League position: 6th
West Ham United twice came from behind but were unable to prevent Southampton from taking the points from London Stadium on Boxing Day. Half-time sub Michail Antonio and Saïd Benrahma scored second half goals to cancel out efforts from Mohamed Elyounoussi and James Ward-Prowse, only for Jan Bednarek to head the winner 20 minutes from time.
It was Southampton who made the more forceful start though, and the game was only eight minutes old when Elyounoussi gave them the lead. The Norwegian’s finish was a smart one, as he drilled into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, although West Ham will feel he had too much space to pick his spot.
Southampton continued to dominate the opening exchanges, although West Ham did come to life as the opening period reached its midpoint and they began to assert themselves. Nikola Vlašić tested Saints keeper Frazer Forster six minutes before the break when he seized upon a wayward pass in midfield and drove towards goal. He opted to shoot as he reached the box, aiming for the bottom right hand corner, but Forster was down sharply to push away. Southampton still posed a threat at the other end and Elyounoussi might have had a second when he skipped through a couple of challenges to reach the box, although his eventual shot lacked the power to test Łukasz Fabiański.
Moyes made a double change at the break, introducing Antonio and Manuel Lanzini and the decision had an instant impact, as Antonio levelled within four minutes of the restart. The No9 was the man on the spot to nod home after Craig Dawson nodded Jarrod Bowen’s corner back across the six yard box and the hosts seemed to be reinvigorated.
But, as the game reached the hour mark, Southampton had the chance to go back in front when referee Kevin Friend was called to his pitchside monitor to judge that Dawson had fouled Armando Broja inside the box. Ward-Prowse buried his penalty low to the left and the Hammers had it all to do again.
To their credit, the response was strong, and they were level again on 65 minutes, Benrahma finishing with aplomb after latching onto Bowen’s low cross from the right eight yards out. Southampton came again and scored the decisive goal five minutes later. Ward-Prowse was the provider this time, delivering a free-kick from the left for Bednarek to rise and plant a header beyond Fabiański. This time there would be no coming back as the Hammers suffered a frustrating end to their home fixtures in 2021.
Southampton:
Forster, Livramento, Salisu, Bednarek, Walker-Peters, Elyounoussi, Romeu (Diallo), Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Walcott (Armstrong), Broja (Adams)
WATFORD
Vicarage Road
4 - 1 (Soucek 27', Benrahma 29', Noble [pen 58'], Vlasic 92')
28 December 2021
Ref: Darren England
Att: 20,073
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 15
West Ham United won: 8, Drawn: 2, Lost: 5
Goals: 26, Against: 19
League position: 5th
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Johnson (Masuaku)
Soucek
Noble
Benrahma (Vlasic)
Lanzini (Kral)
Bowen
Antonio
West Ham United concluded a strong calendar year in style with an outstanding 4-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road. David Moyes' Irons dominated the Premier League new boys in their final fixture of 2021, but fell behind to a moment of quality inside the opening five minutes from Emmanuel Dennis, who skipped inside Craig Dawson before finding the top corner.
But as we have done so often this season, the Hammers mounted a spirited response and took complete command of the game, Tomáš Souček firing home a powerful first-time finish from inside the box before Said Benrahma tucked away Michail Antonio's square ball - the two goals falling just one minute and 49 seconds apart.
A pair of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) calls at the beginning of the second half saw Jarrod Bowen disallowed the Irons' third, but also the same player awarded a penalty which Mark Noble calmly converted to move level with Paolo di Canio as the Irons' joint-second highest Premier League goalscorer on 47 strikes. And an almost-perfect day in Hertfordshire culminated in injury time when Bowen beat his man and crossed low for second-half substitute Nikola Vlašić to apply the simplest of finishes for his first West Ham goal.
It was no more than the Hammers deserved for a showing of real fight and quality, a resounding performance resulting in a first win in four Premier League games.
Watford:
Bachmann, Masina, Cathcart, Sierralta, Femenia (Louza), Hernandez (Joao Pedro), Tufan (Sema), Kucka, Sissoko, King, Dennis
CRYSTAL PALACE
Selhurst Park
3 - 2 (Antonio 22', Lanzini 25', [pen 45+5'])
1 January 2022
Ref: Darren England
Att: 24,351
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Johnson (Masuaku)
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Lanzini (Noble)
Benrahma (Vlasic)
Antonio
Kick-off: 5:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 22
West Ham United won: 9, Drawn: 7, Lost: 6
Goals: 39, Against: 31
League position: 5th
West Ham United enjoyed a happy start to 2022 with a 3-2 Premier League victory at Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day - with Manuel Lanzini again the Eagles' nemesis. David Moyes’ Hammers made it back-to-back top-flight wins courtesy of three first-half goals at Selhurst Park – the seventh time in 20 Premier League matches this season we have scored three or more goals in a game – to close to within a point of the top four.
A high-paced, end-to-end game was settled by a close-range finish from Michail Antonio and two strikes from Lanzini, the first an unstoppable left-foot special from 20 yards and the second a right-foot penalty awarded after Luka Milivojević was penalised for handball.
In truth, the three-goal half-time lead flattered West Ham a little, despite Antonio and Saïd Benrahma being denied by a superb double save from Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita when the game was still goalless, as the Eagles created and missed a succession of presentable chances of their own. Jeffrey Schlupp hit the post within a minute from Christian Benteke’s cut-back, then saw his eighth-minute shot blocked by Ben Johnson, with Milivojević curling a free-kick over the crossbar in between.
Crystal Palace:
Guaita, Ward, Guéhi, Andersen, Mitchell, Milivojević (Mateta), Hughes (Riedewald), Schlupp, Ayew, Édouard, Benteke (Olise)
LEEDS UNITED : FA Cup (Third Round)
London Stadium
2 - 0 (Lanzani 34', Bowen 93')
9 January 2022
Ref: Stuart Attwell
Att: 54,303
Areola
Fredericks
Dawson
Diop
Johnson
Rice
Soucek
Vlasic (Masuaku)
Lanzini (Fornals)
Bowen
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
Manuel Lanzini made it two goals in two games in 2022 as West Ham United scored a 2-0 Emirates FA Cup third-round victory over Leeds United. Fresh from his thunderbolt in our 3-2 Premier League win at Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day, the No10 was on target again with a smartly taken first-half strike at London Stadium. And the in-form Jarrod Bowen, who had been the centre of a VAR review for Lanzini's opener, averted any late drama by converting Michail Antonio's pass in the third minute of added-time to secure his team's progress to the fourth round.
West Ham were value for their second win of the season over Leeds, following a 2-1 Premier League success at Elland Road in September, with only missed opportunities and last-ditch defending stopping David Moyes' men from securing a wider margin of victory. As it was, goals in either half from Lanzini and Bowen got the job done.
Leeds United:
Meslier, Ayling (Forshaw), Kock, Hjelde (Summerville), Llorente, Firpo (Drameh), Bate, Klich, James, Harrison, Greenwood (Raphinha)
NORWICH CITY
London Stadium
2 - 0 (Bowen 42', 83')
12 January 2022
Ref: Simon Hooper
Att: 59,775
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Cresswell
Rice
Lanzini
Fornals
Vlasic (Masuaku)
Bowen
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 13
West Ham United won: 5, Drawn: 6, Lost: 2
Goals: 22, Against: 14
League position: 4th
Jarrod Bowen’s double secured a 2-0 victory for West Ham United against Norwich City at London Stadium. Bowen’s cool header on 42 minutes and tap-in just six minutes before the final whistle continued a fine run of form for the forward while taking the Irons up to fourth in the Premier League.
It was almost the dream start for Bowen and the Hammers as Manuel Lanzini found the No29 in space with a well-spotted pass, and Bowen controlled well before firing an effort which was held by Krul at the second attempt. Lanzini himself got the opportunity to open the scoring after 6 minutes, only for the Argentinian to loft his effort over the bar, before doing the same with half an hour on the clock.
The Irons thought the deserved breakthrough had come on 36 minutes as Aaron Cresswell played a short corner to Bowen. The winger’s cross appeared to evade all contact and go in at the far post, only for the linesman’s flag to be raised. A quick check suggested that Issa Diop had come back from an offside position to deftly head the ball past Krul. But Bowen would not be denied in the first period and netted his fourth Premier League goal of the campaign just three minutes before the interval, heading home Vladimir Coufal’s lofted cross to establish West Ham’s advantage at the interval.
West Ham’s dominance continued in the second half as Michail Antonio received the ball in a dangerous area from Pablo Fornals. The No9 spun past Norwich defender Grant Hanley but could only send his effort over the bar. Bowen then had an excellent opportunity to add his second as he was picked out with a wonderful pass from Fornals. The forward took a fine first touch and lifted his shot over the out-running Krul, only to see it bounce away off the crossbar.
Norwich’s chances were severely limited, but the Canaries provided West Ham with a dangerous reminder that the match was not over on 68 minutes. Adam Idah did well to worm his way past three West Ham defenders before firing an effort towards goal. Lukasz Fabianski, on his 300th Premier League outing, tipped the venomous strike onto the post.
The three points were secured on 84 minutes after a fantastic team move from the Hammers. Fornals played substitute Arthur Masuaku down the left. The full-back waited to square across to Bowen, who gratefully turned home with his right foot. The linesman’s flag was immediately up for offside, but a quick VAR check showed Bowen was played just onside by Max Aarons, confirming his second goal, three points for West Ham, and a place back in the top four of the Premier League.
Norwich City:
Krul, Aarons, Gibson, Hanley, Williams, Lees-Melou, McLean, Placheta (Dowell), Rashica (Tzolis), Idah (Rowe), Pukki
LEEDS UNITED
London Stadium
2 - 3 (Bowen 33', Fornals 52')
16 January 2022
Ref: Mike Dean
Att: 59,951
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Diop (Perkins)
Cresswell
Rice
Lanzini
Fornals (Yarmolenko)
Vlasic (Masuaku)
Bowen
Antonio
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 24
West Ham United won: 5, Drawn: 4, Lost: 15
Goals: 20, Against: 39
League position: 4th
West Ham United’s winning run was ended as Leeds United scored a surprise 3-2 Premier League victory at London Stadium. The Hammers kicked-off on a four-match streak of victories in all competitions, but a hat-trick from Jack Harrison put paid to any hopes of extending it to five.
West Ham twice fell behind before coming back to level, with Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals finding the net, but Harrison unerring finishing ultimately put a dent in the Irons’ charge for a place in the Premier League’s top four.
A slow start and uncharacteristic mistakes cost the hosts dear in the opening half, with Harrison twice taking advantage to put the visitors ahead at the break. The Leeds No22 had already seen a low shot blocked by Craig Dawson when he put the Whites in front on ten minutes. Lukasz Fabianski did well to parry Mateusz Klich’s initial shot, but the goalkeeper could do nothing as Adam Forshaw collected the loose ball and teed-up Harrison to steer inside the right-hand post. The lively Daniel James then fired over as Leeds threatened to take control, before Marcelo Bielsa was forced into two changes due to injuries to Adam Forshaw and Junior Firpo, which rather slowed his side’s momentum.
Sensing an opportunity, West Ham sprang into life. Michail Antonio saw a shot blocked by Stuart Dallas and Craig Dawson headed Aaron Cresswell’s corner narrowly wide before the Irons were rewarded for their improvement with an equaliser on 34 minutes. It was that man Bowen who levelled, losing the attentions of marker Dallas with a clever spin before planting a powerful header past Illan Meslier. Just when you thought the home side would build on that momentum, though, Harrison and Leeds struck for a second time, this time from a corner of their own. Raphinha’s delivery was headed down by Luke Ayling and Harrison ghosted in behind Cresswell to bundle over the line with his thigh. It could have got worse before half-time, too, as James ran in behind onto Raphinha’s through ball before curling into Fabianski’s gloves.
At the other end, Declan Rice hit the side netting, Bowen headed another Cresswell corner over and saw a volley blocked by Pascal Struijk, but Bielsa’s depleted side held firm to go in with the lead.
West Ham were level within seven minutes of the restart, though, as Fornals collected Antonio’s flick, cut inside and shot between Meslier and his near post with unerring accuracy. Yet again, though, the hosts failed to build on their equaliser and fell behind for a third time on the hour-mark. Stuart Dallas prodded Harrison’s cross wide before the latter completed his first Premier League hat-trick by confidently clipping Raphinha’s through ball over the advancing Fabianski.
That turned out to be the winning goal, but there was plenty of further incident in the closing 30 minutes, with both teams having a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside and Meslier making at least two superb saves to frustrate David Moyes’ men. Raphinha hit the post with a free-kick before Klich became the first to be denied by the officials as his goalbound shot hit unwitting substitute Rodrigo on the line on its way in, and the Spaniard was correctly judged to be offside by VAR Craig Pawson. Then, eight minutes from time, Yarmolenko headed in following two fine saves from Meslier, the second from Bowen, who was flagged offside.
And, in the fourth minute of added time, Bowen was again left frustrated when he diverted Antonio’s deflected cross over the bar with his chest from just a few yards out. With that, referee Dean blew the final whistle and West Ham’s winning streak was ended.
Leeds United:
Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Junior Firpo (Hjelde), Dallas, Klich, Forshaw (Bate / Rodrigo), James, Harrison, Raphinha
MANCHESTER UNITED
Old Trafford
0 - 1
22 January 2022
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 73,130
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 52
West Ham United won: 7, Drawn: 13, Lost: 32
Goals: 46, Against: 102
League position: 5th
Areola
Coufal (Fredericks)
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Lanzini
Fornals
Antonio
Marcus Rashford scored for Manchester United with virtually the last kick of the game to break West Ham United hearts at Old Trafford. The Hammers battled well for long spells and looked set to hold out for a third clean sheet in their last four matches before Edinson Cavani's low cross was turned in by the England forward in the third minute of injury time. Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice had both gone close for the Irons earlier on in the second half in a match which ebbed and flowed, but looked in all likelihood destined for a draw until Rashford's cruel late intervention.
The Hammers’ only real openings in the early exchanges derived from direct runs from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio, but on both occasions, the moves were halted by crunching tackles from Harry Maguire inside the box. Both teams struggled for fluency as similar systems cancelled one another out, but it was Manchester United who created the clearer chances and, 20 minutes in, perhaps ought to have taken the lead.
From a deep position, Fernandes whipped a cross of real venom towards the penalty spot, where a stooping Cristiano Ronaldo – sprinting in between centre- and full-back – appeared to misjudge the ball’s flight, watching it sail wide of Areola’s far post.
A forgettable first half did, however, pave the way for a more open second - and one in which West Ham demonstrated real defensive resolve under pressure. Within moments of the restart, Zouma produced a moment of quality at the back, reading Alex Telles’ low cross and stepping in front of Ronaldo when the Portuguese looked destined to score, albeit with Telles then flagged up for offside. Fellow Frenchman Areola faced his first real test after 50 minutes - and the hosts' only shot on target before injury time - when Ronaldo laid the ball off for Fred to aim for the top corner, but our No13 stood tall to tip the rising effort away athletically.
No Premier League team have scored more goals from corners since the return of Moyes as manager - and that avenue might have led to a crucial West Ham goal with four minutes remaining. Bowen’s industry earned the No20 a corner off Telles and, whipping it towards the far post, Souček got across his man and flicked towards the far post - agonisingly wide, as it turned out, with Antonio also sliding in. Areola then got down low to deny Ronaldo on the swivel and hold, before Rice concerned de Gea with a deflected low cross - just wide of his near post. As football so often provides, there was to be one, final, cruel twist, Rashford's goal snatching all three points at the death for the Red Devils.
Manchester United:
De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Telles, McTominay, Fred (Cavani), Fernandes, Elanga (Rashford), Ronaldo, Greenwood (Martial)
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS : FA Cup (Fourth Round)
Aggborough Stadium
2 - 1 (Rice 90+1', Bowen 120+1')
5 February 2022
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 5,327
Areola
Fredericks
Diop (Dawson)
Zouma
Johnson (Cresswell)
Kral (Rice)
Noble (Soucek)
Vlasic (Fornals)
Benrahma
Yarmolenko
Bowen
Kick-off: 12.30pm
After extra time - 1-1 at 90 minutes
West Ham United struck in the closing seconds of both normal time and extra-time to defeat a spirited Kidderminster Harriers team in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round. The Irons looked set to finish on the wrong end of an enormous upset at Aggborough Stadium after Luke Penny stabbed home a loose ball after 20 minutes to put the National League North hosts into the lead.
West Ham struggled for fluency in regulation time but were inspired by the introduction of Declan Rice at half-time, the England international stamping his authority on the tie by driving into the box and smashing into the roof of the net in the first minute of stoppage time. Then, just as a quiet additional 30 minutes looked set to yield penalty kicks, a deflected effort fell kindly for Aaron Cresswell, who teed up Jarrod Bowen to send the Hammers through from close range in the final seconds of an FA Cup fourth-round epic.
Kidderminster Harriers:
Simpson, Penny, Richards, Cameron, Austin (Redmond), Carrington (Montrose), Morgan-Smith (Martin), Hemmings (White), Sterling, Bajrami, Preston
WATFORD
London Stadium
1 - 0 (Bowen 68')
8 February 2022
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Att: 59,581
Fabianski
Coufal
Zouma
Dawson
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Fornals
Benrahma (Lanzini)
Antonio
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 16
West Ham United won: 9, Drawn: 2, Lost: 5
Goals: 27, Against: 19
League position: 4th
Jarrod Bowen’s eleventh goal of the season in all competitions was the difference as West Ham United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory against Watford. Bowen’s low shot on 68 minutes came as the Hammers turned up the pressure on a resolute Hornets side, under the management of new boss Roy Hodgson, with the West Ham forward finding the net via a vital deflection off Watford defender Samir.
West Ham finished the game out comfortably and Bowen almost capped an excellent individual effort with a second goal, only for Foster’s wonderful reflexes to tip his left-foot shot onto the post. As it was, David Moyes' men settled for a one-goal victory that nonetheless took the Hammers onto 40 points and above Manchester United - who drew 1-1 at Burnley - and back into the Premier League's top four.
Watford:
Foster; Femenia (Ngakia), Cathcart, Samir, Kamara; Sissoko, Cleverley (Joao Pedro), Kucka; Dennis, King, Kayembe (Louza)
LEICESTER CITY
King Power Stadium
2 - 2 (Bowen 10', Dawson 90+1')
13 February 2022
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 32,061
Fabianski
Coufal (Fredericks)
Dawson
Diop
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Fornals (Vlasic)
Lanzini (Benrahma)
Bowen
Antonio
Kick-off: 4:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 30
West Ham united won: 14, Drawn: 7, Lost: 9
Goals: 49, Against: 39
League position: 4th
Craig Dawson's injury-time header saw West Ham United pick up a hard-fought point with a 2-2 draw at Leicester City. The Hammers had led for much of a bitty first half at a wet and windy King Power Stadium, Jarrod Bowen racing through after ten minutes to fire in his seventh goal in his last seven games with a clinical finish.
Yet a penalty conceded on the stroke of half-time appeared to have given the Foxes the momentum they needed to take all three points when Youri Tielemans dispatched it clinically and played a part in Ricardo Pereira stooping to head home early in the second half. But West Ham's resolve remained strong, and despite struggling to find their usual rhythm, their sheer spirit and determination paid dividends when Dawson flung himself towards Bowen's corner in the first minute of injury time, thumping home to clinch a point in Leicestershire.
Leicester City:
Schmeichel, Pereira, Söyüncü, Amartey, Justin (Thomas), Tielemans (Vestergaard), Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes, Maddison (Lookman), Daka
NEWCASTLE UNITED
London Stadium
1 - 1 (Dawson 32')
19 February 2022
Ref: Chris Kavanagh
Att: 59,949
Fabianski
Fredericks (Johnson)
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Benrahma (Vlasic)
Fornals
Antonio
Kick-off: 12:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 48
West Han United won: 14, Drawn: 12, Lost: 22
Goals: 61, Against 79
League position: 5th
West Ham United had to be content with a draw against Newcastle United on Saturday, after Joe Willock’s scrambled goal cancelled out Craig Dawson’s opener at London Stadium.
Both goals came in the opening period as the Hammers weathered a bright Newcastle start before settling and moving in front when Dawson headed his second goal in as many games on 32 minutes. Jarrod Bowen had earlier hit the crossbar and West Ham looked well placed, only for Willock to level on the stroke of half-time. Newcastle then formed a solid barrier in the second period as they gave little away, leading the hosts to settle for a second draw in succession.
Newcastle United:
Dubravka, Krafth, Schär, Burn, Targett, Willock (Bruno Guimarães), Shelvey, Joelinton, Fraser (Almirón), Wood, Murphy
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
London Stadium
1 - 0 (Soucek 59')
26 February 2022
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Att: 59,946
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Lanzini
Fornals (Diop)
Bowen
Antonio (Vlasic)
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 12
West ham United won: 5, Drawn: 1, lost: 6
Goals: 14, Against: 15
League position: 5th
Tomáš Souček celebrated his 27th birthday by shooting West Ham United to a 1-0 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Czech Republic international was in the right place at the right time to prod Michail Antonio’s cross past José Sá 59 minutes into a game the Hammers dominated and should arguably have won by a more comfortable margin.
As it was, David Moyes will settle for a single-goal victory that extends West Ham’s unbeaten run to five matches and took his team onto 45 points – level with Arsenal and just two behind Manchester United – and back up into fifth place.
Wolverhampton Wanderers:
Sá, Kilman, Coady, Saïss, Hoever, Dendoncker, Neves, Marçal (Neto), Trincão (Podence), Fábio Silva, Hwang (Jiménez)
SOUTHAMPTON : FA Cup (Fifth Round)
St Mary's Stadium
1 - 3 (Antonio 60')
2 March 2022
Ref: Andre Marriner
Att: 28,383
Areola
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Diop
Fornals (Vlasic)
Rice
Soucek (Benrahma)
Lanzini
Bowen
Antonio
West Ham United’s Emirates FA Cup hopes were dashed as Southampton emerged 3-1 fifth-round winners at St Mary’s Stadium. Michail Antonio scored his first goal since New Year’s Day against one of his former clubs, but it was not enough to prevent the Saints taking their place in the quarter-finals at the Hammers’ expense.
In truth, it was a hugely frustrating night for David Moyes’ side, who had the better of the first half, fell behind, lost Tomáš Souček to a facial injury, got level, then lost to a penalty awarded following a VAR review by referee Andre Marriner and a late goal from substitute Armando Broja. And so the Irons’ search for a first major domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1980 goes on.
Southampton:
Caballero, Walker-Peters (Livramento), Valery, Stephens, Perraud, Diallo (Romeu), Smallbone (Redmond), Ward-Prowse, Djenepo (Armstrong S.), Armstrong A., Long (Broja)
LIVERPOOL
Anfield
0 - 1
5 March 2022
Ref: Jonathan Moss
Att: 53,059
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Soucek
Fornals (Chesters)
Lanzini
Vlasic (Noble)
Bowen (Benrahma)
Antonio
Kick-off: 5:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 52
West Ham United won: 10, Drawn: 10, lost: 32
Goals: 48, Against: 99
League position: 5th
West Ham United produced a spirited performance but came away empty-handed from Anfield yet again as Liverpool scored a 1-0 Premier League victory. David Moyes’ side had enough chances to come away with at least a draw, but wasteful finishing cost them dear and meant Sadio Mané’s first-half goal was enough to tilt the game in the Reds’ favour.
The Hammers’ hopes of securing just a second top-flight win at Anfield in 59 years had been dealt a pre-match blow when Declan Rice was ruled out with a non-COVID illness, and a further blow when Jarrod Bowen was helped off after suffering a foot injury five minutes into the second half.
After both sets of players and supporters stood in support of Ukraine before kick-off, West Ham produced a performance full of trademark determination and commitment, albeit in a losing cause.
Liverpool:
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Konaté, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Keïta (Milner), Díaz (Jones), Mané, Salah (Diogo Jota)
SEVILLA FC (Spain) Europa League (Round of 16 ~ 1st leg)
Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán
0 - 1
10 March 2022
Ref: Sandro Scharer
Att: 34,728
NO PROGRAMME ISSUED (Pirate copy)
Areola
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Lanzini (Noble)
Fornals (Masuaku)
Vlasic (Benrahma)
Antonio
West Ham United’s European dream remains alive after David Moyes’ Hammers were narrowly edged out 1-0 by Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg. The Hammers gave their all in southern Spain, and could even have come back to east London with a more positive result, after a game in which they held their own against the record six-times Europa League winners for an hour.
However, the La Liga side undoubtedly possess quality of their own, and it is they who will bring a slender advantage to London Stadium after Munir slammed in the only goal with a powerful low first-time strike from Marcos Acuña's cleverly crafted free-kick.
The Andalusian city was a sea of Claret and Blue ahead of kick-off as thousands of West Ham supporters congregated in the warm sunshine to enjoy a drink and a sing-song before joining forces for the late afternoon walk to the historic Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium. There, they were joined by their equally vocal counterparts in Sevilla red, making for a fantastic atmosphere as kick-off approached.
When the game did get underway, it lived up to its billing from the start, with both teams going on the front foot, making for an entertaining and enthralling clash of styles – Sevilla playing possession-based football and raining crosses into the penalty area, West Ham looking to break at pace and catch their hosts out on the counter.
There were ten goal attempts in the first 20 minutes, with Sevilla having seven, but West Ham undoubtedly having the clearest. Youssef En-Nesyri headed straight at Alphonse Areola and saw a shot blocked by Ben Johnson while Munir and Acuña sent efforts wide of the target as the Spanish side came quickly out of the blocks. Then, on eleven minutes, the Hammers arguably should have taken the lead. Joan Jordán was penalised for handball 35 yards from his own goal, Manuel Lanzini curled over the free-kick, Declan Rice headed square, but a diving Nikola Vlašić could only power his header too close to goalkeeper Bono, who parried to safety.
Having survived an almighty scare, Sevilla resumed their creation of a succession of half-chances, with Jordán seeing a shot blocked, Jesús Corona volleying high and wide and Jules Koundé sending a bouncing effort straight at compatriot Areola from 30 yards. As the midway point of the first half came and went, neither the noise levels nor the goalmouth action dropped, with Munir and Vlašić trading low shots which narrowly evaded the bottom corner. Then, as the interval approached, Fornals saw a volley blocked behind and a competitive opening half somehow ended goalless.
Although the second half produced less chances, it did produce a goal, but unfortunately one for Sevilla rather than West Ham. Souček had stung Bono's palms from distance early in the period, but the home side then began a period of dominance that culminated in Munir giving them a 60th-minute lead.
The Moroccan fired a shot over and fellow countryman En-Nesyri saw a header saved before the former Barcelona forward struck, sending a well-hit half-volley past Areola from Acuña's cleverly crafted free-kick. Moyes responded by sending on Saïd Benrahma for Vlašić and the Algerian did make an impact, leading to Fornals seeing a shot blocked and Lanzini sending another wide of the target.
Sevilla continued to carry a threat too, with Argentina international Lucas Ocampos twice firing a yard wide in the closing stages. Antonio had a late, late effort as the English team went in search of a leveller right at the end of added-time, but it was charged down. And so, when Swiss referee Sandro Schärer blew his whistle for full-time, West Ham were down - but certainly not out of the Europa League by any measure.
Sevilla FC:
Bono, Jesús Navas, Gudelj, Koundé, Acuña, Jordán, Óliver Torres, Corona (Augustinsson), Ocampos, En-Nesyri (Rafa Mir), Munir (Martial)
ASTON VILLA
London Stadium
2 - 1 (Yarmolenko 70', Fornals 82')
13 March 2022
Ref: Jarred Gillett
Att: 59,957
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell (Fredericks)
Rice
Soucek
Fornals
Lanzini
Benrahma (Diop)
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 46
West Ham United won: 13, Drawn: 20, lost: 13
Goals: 51, Against: 51
League position: 6th
Andriy Yarmolenko’s superb flick and finish set West Ham United on our way to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa on an emotional afternoon at London Stadium. The forward, making his first appearance in Claret and Blue since being granted compassionate leave in the midst of the crisis engulfing his home country of Ukraine, came on as a second-half substitute in place of Michail Antonio, and opened the scoring 18 minutes later with a clever strike on the turn.
Pablo Fornals netted West Ham’s second on 82 minutes on the counter-attack, turning home Saïd Benrahma’s pull-back, with a finish which Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could not keep out. Jacob Ramsey would pull one back for the away side as the match ticked into added time.
But the afternoon belonged to Yarmolenko, who received a standing ovation upon his introduction to the action and was visibly moved at the rapturous reaction to his vitally important goal, which set the Hammers on our way to a hard-fought win.
Aston Villa:
Martínez, Cash, Chambers, Mings (c), Digne (Young 10), Douglas Luiz (Buendía 79), McGinn, Ramsey, Coutinho, Watkins, Ings (Bailey 69)
SAVILLA FC (Spain) Europa League (Round of 16 ~ 2nd leg)
London Stadium
2 - 0 (Soucek 39', Yarmolenko 112')
17 March 2022
Ref: Clement Turpin
Att: 59,981
Areola
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Fornals (Diop)
Lanzini (Noble)
Benrahma (Yarmolenko) Antonio (Fredericks)
Tomáš Souček and Andriy Yarmolenko wrote their names into West Ham United folklore, securing a famous 2-0 victory over Sevilla to send the Irons into the Europa League quarter-finals.
In front of a record home attendance at London Stadium, the valiant and industrious Hammers turned around a 1-0 deficit from the first leg and booked our place in the last eight of the competition to continue our sensational European journey. Souček gave the home side a deserved advantage on 39 minutes, heading home a Michail Antonio cross and levelling the tie on aggregate.
No further goals could be found in the regulation 90 minutes but substitute Yarmolenko, fresh from scoring the opener against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, ensured the comeback and sent London Stadium into delirium, as West Ham claimed an historic win over the six-time Europa League winners.
The significance of the occasion could be felt in the very air at London Stadium hours before kick-off. The wall of noise that greeted the home team, made by the largest ever home crowd in West Ham United history, was quite unlike anything ever heard in Stratford before.
Despite the early chance slipping away, the home side continued to push. The home support continued to chant and cheer. On 39 minutes, the pressure finally came good.
Once again, Antonio could claim credit for sensational work. The No9 took possession on the edge of the ‘D’ and headed wide to the left. Drawing in the tackle, the forward dinked a delicious ball over the entire Sevilla defence, finding Souček. The Czech Republic international rose highest, looping in a well-placed header to give us the lead on the night and send London Stadium into elated euphoria.
With 98 minutes on the clock, Souček came within inches of being the hero. A Fornals corner was into Craig Dawson. The centre-back headed into the ground, and Souček followed in. His header was agonisingly wide. Ffifteen minutes came and went, and the second period of extra time began. Rice tried to make his mark, firing over from 25 yards shortly after the restart.
The moment the home crowd had been waiting for came on 112 minutes. Lanzini superbly switched the play to Fornals, who drove at the Sevilla defence and tied to curl home. Bounou saved, but Yarmolenko was there to turn the ball past his outstretched glove and into the back of the net.
Pure joy radiated through London Stadium as the crowd willed the final whistle. Amidst an evening of loud support, the cheer that came at the very end was the noisiest, the most passionate of the entire match. An historic win on a historic night.
Sevilla FC:
Bounou, Navas, (Montiel), Koundé, Gudelj (Carmona), Augustinsson, Jordán, Delaney, Rakitić (Torres), Corona (Munir), En-Nesyri (Rafa Mir), Martial (Luismi)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
1 - 3 (Benrahma 35')
20 March 2022
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Att: 58,685
Kick-off: 4:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 52
West Ham United won: 17, Drawn: 10, lost: 25
Goals: 62, Against: 76
League position: 7th
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Masuaku (Fornals)
Soucek
Rice
Lanzini (Vlasic)
Benrahma
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
Two Son Heung-min finishes, and an unfortunate own-goal, saw West Ham United fall to a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. Kurt Zouma was unlucky to deflect the ball past Łukasz Fabiański on nine minutes, after a Harry Kane cross, while Son fired in his first on 24 minutes to double Spurs’ advantage.
Saïd Benrahma creatively volleyed past Hugo Lloris to give the Irons a way back into the game on 35 minutes, but Son finished the game with a low finish as the match ticked towards added-time, ensuring the points remained in north London.
Tottenham Hotspur:
Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Doherty, Betancur, Højbjerg, Reguilón (Royal), Kulusevski (Bergwijn), Son (Moura), Kane
EVERTON
London Stadium
2 - 1 (Cresswell 32', Bowen 58')
3 April 2022
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 59,953
Fabianski
Fredericks
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen (Noble)
Benrahma (Yarmolenko) Fornals
Antonio
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 52
West Ham United won: 12, Drawn: 13, lost: 27
Goals: 49, Against: 88
League position: 6tgh
West Ham United returned to the Premier League’s top five and recharged their challenge for European qualification with an eventful 2-1 victory over Everton at London Stadium.
Aaron Cresswell’s unstoppable free-kick and a smartly-taken finish from the fit-again Jarrod Bowen settled matters, albeit Mason Holgate’s equaliser meant David Moyes’ side had to work hard for their win over Frank Lampard’s struggling Blues, who finished the game with ten men following Michael Keane’s red card.
The two sides had traded blows in what was a largely even first half, with West Ham controlling the majority of possession and Everton playing on the break using the pace of Richarlison, Demarai Gray and Alex Iwobi. Keane blocked shots from Pablo Fornals and Antonio, while Craig Dawson and Ryan Fredericks did likewise to deny Richarlison inside the opening ten minutes, while Bowen shot straight at Jordan Pickford from distance.
The alert Pickford also did well to close down Fornals, but he could do nothing to keep out Cresswell’s inch-perfect opener on 32 minutes. Fredericks had used his speed to deny Richarlison moments earlier and the intervention proved crucial when Holgate fouled Bowen and Cresswell stepped up to curl his free-kick into the top right-hand corner. The Blues were momentarily rattled, with Keane being shown a yellow card for hauling down Antonio, and that decision would prove costly when the England centre-back fouled the same player in the second half and was given his marching orders by referee Oliver.
In between the two bookings, Everton had their best period of the match either side of half-time. Richarlison skimmed the crossbar with one effort before the break, then Dominic Calvert-Lewin clipped the woodwork with a rising shot shortly after it. The Blues’ improvement was finally rewarded on 53 minutes when Łukasz Fabiański’s punch from a corner dropped to Richarlison. The Brazilian poked the ball back to Holgate, whose shot took a decisive deflection off Fornals and span into the bottom right-hand corner.
But, just when it looked like the Blues would take control, a loose touch from Iwobi allowed Fornals to release Antonio. The No9 raced into the Everton penalty area and forced Pickford to parry the ball into the path of Bowen, who marked his return from four games out with a heel injury with a clever right-foot finish over the sliding Vitalii Mykolenko. Keane’s dismissal further deflated Lampard’s visitors and, with Moyes introducing Mark Noble and Andriy Yarmolenko to add experience and composure to the home ranks, West Ham saw out the final 20 minutes with few alarms.
Everton:
Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Holgate, Doucouré, Gray, Iwobi, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin (Gordon)
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (France) Europa League (Quarter-Final ~ 1st leg)
London Stadium
1 - 1 (Bowen 52')
7 April 2022
Ref: Felix Zwayer
Att: 59,978
Areola
Fredericks
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Fornals
Benrahma (Johnson)
Bowen
Antonio
Kick-off: 8:00pm
Aaron Cresswell sent-off 45 mins
Ten-man West Ham United battled to a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg against Olympique Lyonnais. In front of another sell-out crowd at London Stadium, the Hammers bounced back from a first half which ended with Aaron Cresswell seeing red for a challenge on Moussa Dembélé.
Jarrod Bowen was the man for the massive moments again for West Ham, as he pounced on a mistake at the back from the experienced Jérôme Boateng to finish beyond Anthony Lopes and put his side ahead seven minutes after the restart.
Tanguy Ndombélé levelled for the French side 14 minutes later as Peter Bosz's team looked to take the advantage with them ahead of the second leg in Lyon next week. But the Irons defended valiantly from then on and held out – which means that it is all to play for heading into the second leg at Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday 14 April.
Olympique Lyonnais:
Lopes, Gusto, Boateng (Ekambi), Lukeba, Emerson, Aouar, Mendes (Denayer), Ndombélé, Faivre (Teté), Lucas Paquetá, Dembélé
BRENTFORD
Brentford Community Stadium
0 - 2
9 April 2022
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Att: 17,032
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 2
West Ham United won: 0, Drawn: 0, Lost: 2
Goals: 0: Against: 4
League position: 6th
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Zouma (Diop)
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Lanzini (Benrahma)
Fornals
Antonio (Vlasic)
The Hammers’ hopes of climbing back into the top five were scuppered by a below-par performance in west London, where second half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney settled a disappointing derby and earned the Bees a double over David Moyes’ side.
Mbeumo and Toney provided the assists for one another’s goals. First, on 48 minutes, Toney headed Kristoffer Ajer’s right-wing throw into the Frenchman’s path and he fired powerfully past Łukasz Fabiański.
Then, on 64, Michail Antonio lost possession and the Bees countered down their left flank. Rico Henry crossed beyond the far post, from where Mbeumo cushioned the ball square for the unmarked Toney to head in.
Defeat marked a dissatisfying end to a week that had begun brightly with a Premier League home win over Everton and also featured a draining UEFA Europa League quarter-final first-leg tie with Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday evening.
Brentford:
Raya, Ajer (Roerslev), Pinnock, Zanka, Henry, Nørgaard, Janelt (Jensen), Mbeumo (Canós), Eriksen, Wissa, Toney
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (France) Europa League (Quarter-Final ~ 2nd leg)
Groupma Stadium
3 - 0 (Dawson 38', Rice 44', Bowen 48')
14 April 2022
Ref: Sandro Scharer
Att: 50,065
NO PROGRAMME ISSUED (Pirate copy)
Areola
Coufal
Dawson
Diop
Johnson
Rice (Benrahma)
Soucek
Bowen
Lanzini (Noble)
Fornals
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
West Ham United reached their first major European semi-final in 46 years with a stunning 3-0 UEFA Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Olympique Lyonnais in France, completing a sensational 4-1 aggregate victory.
After holding their opponents heroically in the first leg at London Stadium, despite playing the second half with ten men, the Irons produced another immense performance to knock out the seven-times Ligue 1 champions.
David Moyes’ team all but silenced a raucous Parc Olympique Lyonnais with a combination of resilience, set-piece excellence, good fortune and sheer hard work to win through to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-final. After a rollercoaster opening 38 minutes, Craig Dawson and Declan Rice set the foundations for an unforgettable night by scoring six minutes apart near the end of the first half, the former with a trademark header and the captain with a deflected shot. Jarrod Bowen then put the icing on the Claret and Blue cake in typical fashion, finishing a lightning counter-attack with an exquisite right-foot 20-yard strike, but every man in a West Ham shirt played their part in an historic success. The first half chances ebbed and flowed like the rivers Rhône and Saône do through the centre of Lyon.
West Ham almost made the dream start, Fornals dragging wide within 20 seconds of kick-off, before enjoying a vital let-off in the fifth minute, when six-goal Cameroon international Karl Toko Ekambi thumped a low shot off the base of the post and Malo Gusto rifled the follow-up a yard over. And heart rates rose again minutes later when Romain Faivre’s low cross caused momentary havoc and only a last-ditch block from Vladimír Coufal denied Houssem Aouar and Lyon the lead. Their tails up, Lyon continued to press hard for the opener, using both flanks in an attempt to get behind their opponents, but the Irons gradually grew into the game and began creating regular chances of their own. Fornals curled into the arms of Pollersback, then Bowen sent one shot wide on the stretch, then saw a second deflected past the post.
From the resulting Fornals’ inswinging left-wing corner, West Ham took the lead, Dawson timing his run and leap perfectly to get above Dembélé – whose wink after Aaron Cresswell’s first-leg sending-off had angered the Hammers – and powering his header in at the near post. Then, six minutes later, with the Irons’ energy levels noticeably boosted, Ben Johnson’s cross from the same flank was headed out by Chelsea loanee Emerson only as far as Rice, who took a touch and shot low past Julian Pollersback via a helpful deflection off Castello Lukeba.
Lyon manager Peter Bosz made two changes at half-time, bringing on Brazilian playmakers Lucas Paquetá and Tetê, but to no avail. Instead, West Ham went further ahead just three minutes into the second period with a counter-attack that has become one of this team’s trademarks during their recent rise. Rice’s interception, Lanzini’s pass and Fornals’ through ball turned defence into attack in seconds and Bowen raced through before gleefully despatching his shot into the bottom left-hand corner. For the third time, the stadium fell silent, save for the 2,800 happy Hammers celebrating high in the stands.
While there was nearly a full half of football to be played, Lyon rarely threatened Alphonse Areola’s goal, and it was instead the Irons who initially went closest to adding to the scoresheet. Antonio had an effort saved by Pollersback, Fornals saw one blocked and Bowen fired a long-ranger over the bar before Bosz’s side finally tested the goalkeeper. Even then, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner was equal to Toko Ekambi’s well-struck shot.
Substitutes Bradley Barcola and Tetê then fired efforts comfortably wide amd Dembélé straight at Areola as a West Ham defence led superbly by Dawson, whose massive performance alongside Issa Diop made up for the absences of the injured Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna, held firm to keep a deserved clean sheet and secure a victory no Hammer will ever forget.
Olympique Lyonnais:
Pollersback, Gusto, Denayer (Reine-Adélaïde), Lukeba, Emerson, Mendes, Faivre (Lucas Paquetá), Toko Ekambi, Aouar (B.Barcola), Ndombélé (Tetê), Dembélé
BURNLEY
London Stadium
1 - 1 (Soucek 74')
17 April 2022
Ref: Paul Tierney
Att: 59,958
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Diop
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Vlasic (Benrahma)
Lanzini (Fornals)
Bowen
Antonio
Kick-off: 2:15pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 16
West ham United won: 8, Drawn: 3, lost: 5
Goals: 22, Against: 21
Fabianski saved a penalty 45+9 mins
League position: 7th
West Ham United came from behind to draw 1-1 with Burnley at London Stadium in the Premier League. The Hammers dominated in terms of possession and chances created, only for a combination of wasteful finishing and the excellence of Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope to deny them a victory the hosts arguably warranted on the balance of play.
As it was, West Ham conceded to Burnley’s only shot on target – a first-half header from Wout Weghorst – and had a missed penalty from Maxwel Cornet to thank for giving them a chance to mount a second half comeback.
David Moyes’ side did so, equalising through a bundled effort from Tomáš Souček with 16 minutes remaining, but they were unable to find a way past Pope again in the closing stages and were forced to settle for a frustrating point.
Burnley:
Pope, Lowton (Roberts), Tarkowski, Collins, Taylor, McNeil (Vydra), Cork, Westwood (Brownhill), Cornet, Weghorst, Rodriguez
CHELSEA
Stamford Bridge
0 - 1
24 April 2022
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 32,231
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 52
West Ham United won: 15, Drawn: 9, lost: 28
Goals: 15, Against: 90
Dawson sent-off 84 mins
Fabianski saved a penalty 87 mins
League position: 7th
Fabianski
Johnson
Dawson
Cresswell
Coufal
Noble (Rice)
Soucek
Masuaku
Yarmolenko (Bowen)
Fornals
Benrahma (Lanzini)
West Ham United suffered late heartbreak at Chelsea when Christian Pulisic’s left-footed finish settled a tight London derby late on at Stamford Bridge.
A much-changed Hammers side looked to have secured a hard-fought point when Łukasz Fabiański saved Jorginho’s weak penalty three minutes from the end, but the hosts picked themselves up and struck the decisive blow in the final minute of the regulation 90.
The visitors defended valiantly throughout and a share of the spoils would have been welcome reward, but they will now look to pick themselves up ahead of Thursday’s huge UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chelsea:
Mandy, Chalobah, Silva, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek (Ziyech), Kanté, Jorginho, Alonso, Mount, Havertz (Lukaku), Werner (Pulisic)
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Germany) Europa League (Semi-Final 1st leg)
London Stadium
1 - 2 (Antonio 21')
28 April 2022
Ref: Serdar Gozubuyuk
Att: 59,980
Areola
Johnson
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Lanzini (Benrahma)
Bowen
Fornals
Antonio
West Ham United will need to summon the spirit of 1976 after losing 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final. The Hammers were in an identical position 46 years ago before coming from behind to win the second leg 3-1 and advance to the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, albeit on home turf at the Boleyn Ground.
This time around, the Irons will need to win away from home in Germany after goals from Ansgar Knauff and Daichi Kamada gave the Bundesliga outfit the advantage at the halfway stage, with Michail Antonio replying for David Moyes’ side. Jarrod Bowen twice hit the woodwork for the hosts, while Kamada did likewise for the visitors on a night when either side could have claimed the first-leg advantage.
Just 50 seconds had elapsed when Kamada was allowed to run forward unopposed and find Rafael Santos Borré inside the penalty area. The Colombian turned and lifted a cross to the far post, where Knauff timed his run perfectly and placed his header past Alphonse Areola. West Ham rallied. Tomáš Souček headed Manuel Lanzini’s free-kick well wide before turning provider for Jarrod Bowen, who raced through the centre of the Eintracht defence and shot low and hard, only for goalkeeper Kevin Trapp’s miniscule but vital touch with his left boot to divert the ball onto the base of the post. Souček then headed Ben Johnson’s follow-up cross high over the crossbar.
The pressure was building and, after Areola had held a volley from Dane Jesper Lindstrøm, the Irons fashioned an equaliser from another Lanzini free-kick on 21 minutes. This time, Kurt Zouma won the initial header, nodding across goal for Michail Antonio to convert from close-range, despite Trapp’s efforts to keep the ball out. Having levelled, West Ham upped the ante further, but it was Eintracht who created the game’s next chances, but neither Filip Kostić nor Knauff could keep their shots on target.
Souček glanced off-target for a third time as half-time approached, but that was it for the goalmouth action for an intriguing opening 45 minutes.
When the action resumed it was Souček again who had the first opportunity – and his fourth of the match – but the Czech could only volley Antonio’s dropping cross wide of the target again. And that miss proved costly as Eintracht cut through the centre of the West Ham defence a second time. Areola did superbly to keep out Djibril Sow’s initial effort, but Kamada followed in to score.
West Ham rallied again. Fornals’ volley bobbled wide, then substitute Saïd Benrahma clipped the woodwork with a wicked, dipping shot, but the equaliser eluded Moyes’ men, who now have it all to do at the Waldstadion.
Indeed, the deficit could have been even wider had Kamada not seen his shot flick Craig Dawson’s heel and bounce off the post with ten minutes remaining.
Then, in added time, it could have evaporated when Bowen thumped the underside of the crossbar with a spectacular overhead kick from Rice's cross, only for the ball to bounce off Trapp and be scrambled clear. And so, while the odds are against the east Londoners, it is not beyond them to create history again, 46 years on.
Eintracht Frankfurt:
Trapp, Tuta, Hinteregger, Touré, Rode, Sow, Knauff, Lindstrøm (Hauge), Kostić, Kamada, Borré (Ache)
ARSENAL
London Stadium
1 - 2 (Bowen 45')
1 May 2022
Ref: Mike Dean
Att: 59,959
Fabianski
Coufal
Zouma
Cresswell
Fredericks
Noble (Soucek)
Rice
Benrahma (Yarmolenko) Lanzini (Antonio)
Fornals
Bowen
Kick-off: 4:30pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 52
West Ham United won: 8, Drawn: 10, lost: 34
Goals: 39, Against: 98
League position: 7th
West Ham United’s hopes of European qualification took a blow as Arsenal scored a 2-1 Premier League victory at London Stadium. As has been the case too often in recent weeks, the Hammers matched their opponents for long periods in general play, only for defensive lapses and a failure to make the most of promising positions in attack to cost them a positive result.
And so it was that two set piece headers from Rob Holding and Gabriel saw the Gunners steal a victory their all-round performance arguably did not warrant, and render Jarrod Bowen’s 16th goal of the season a mere consolation. The defeat leaves West Ham seventh in the table, three points ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have a game more to play.
Arsenal:
Ramsdale, Tomiyasu (Soares), Holding, Gabriel, Tavares, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka (Smith Rowe), Ødegaard (Lokonga), Martinelli, Nketiah
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (Germany) Europa League (Semi-Final 2nd leg)
Deutsche Bank Park
0 - 1
5 May 2022
Ref: Jesus Gil Manzano
Att: 48,000
Areola
Coufal (Yarmolenko)
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Fornals (Benrahma)
Lanzini (Johnson)
Bowen
Antonio
Kick-off: 9:00pm
Aaron Cresswell sent-off 17 mins
David Moyes sent-off 78 mins
West Ham United’s UEFA Europa League run has been ended at the semi-final stage by Eintracht Frankfurt. The Hammers travelled to Germany hopeful of overturning a 2-1 first-leg deficit, but saw their hopes evaporate in the opening 45 minutes at Deutsche Bank Park, where Aaron Cresswell was sent-off before Rafael Borré swept home to extend the hosts’ advantage.
Try as they might to battle back into the tie, David Moyes’ men were unable to find a way to goal and saw their dream of winning a first major trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1980 shattered, as Frankfurt won 1-0 on the night and went through 3-1 on aggregate.
The odds were stacked against West Ham before kick-off: No away team had ever won a UEFA Europa League semi-final after losing the first leg at home; Eintracht had won all nine previous UEFA ties in which they recorded an away victory in the first leg; West Ham’s only previous home first-leg defeat, to Borussia Dortmund in the 1965/66 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals, was followed by a 3-1 second-leg loss in Germany. Moyes’ players were also faced with a wall of sound – and smoke – from Eintracht’s Nordwestkurve before kick-off and a barrage of whistles every time they attacked.
After making a bright start in the pyrotechnically-created gloom and seeing Eintracht lose experienced Austrian defender Martin Hinteregger to injury, West Ham lost Cresswell to his second red card of the Europa League campaign and the tie took a fatal turn in Frankfurt’s favour. The left-back tussled with Jens Petter Hauge from goalkeeper Kevin Trapp’s long clearance. Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano initially booked Cresswell, then changed his decision after being called to the pitchside monitor by VAR Alejandro Hernández.
Filip Kostić curled the resulting free-kick narrowly wide, but it would not be long before Frankfurt made their numerical advantage count. Moyes sent on Ben Johnson for Manuel Lanzini in a bid to strengthen his defence, but first-leg goalscorer Ansgar Knauff found space down the left before cutting back for Borré to score from 12 yards.
An historically difficult task was now almost impossible. West Ham continued to carry a threat, most notably from set pieces, and Kurt Zouma went close to equalising before half-time, but his bundled effort from Bowen’s free-kick was cleared off the line by home captain Sebastian Rode.
Into the second period and the game continued to follow the same pattern, with Frankfurt having the majority of the ball and the Irons trying to hit them on the break or from set plays. Unsurprisingly, Eintracht had the majority of the chances, too, with Areola saving from Borré and Djibril Sow and Daichi Kamada dragging wide and Kostić firing over the crossbar. West Ham then fashioned their best chance of the night on the hour-mark, but Dawson’s header from Antonio’s left-wing cross bounced too close to Trapp.
Twelve minutes later, the tireless Antonio appeared on the right, burst past Evan N’Dicka and crossed low and hard, but a diving Trapp diverted the ball away from the onrushing Bowen and Tomáš Souček. The No9 had an even later chance, too, but the goalkeeper was equal to his right-foot shot. Souček then headed a Bowen corner narrowly wide in the final minute of the 90, before the latter also saw a shot held by Trapp and fired another into the side-netting.
Having seen his team lose a first leg they arguably should have won and lose Cresswell early in the second, the manager’s frustration resulted in he too being shown a red card by referee Manzano with 12 minutes to play, after the ball was not returned quickly for a West Ham throw-in. It was an unfortunate end to a wonderful run for the Hammers which began in Croatia last September, made stops in Belgium, Austria, Spain, France and Germany, and saw the Club return to prominence on the European stage.
Eintracht Frankfurt:
Trapp, Tuta, Hinteregger (Touré), N’Dicka, Knauff, Sow, Rode (Jakić), Kostić, Hauge (Hrustic), Kamada, Borré (Paciência)
NORWICH CITY
Carrow Road
4 - 0 (Benrahma 12', 45+3', Antonio 30', Lanzini [pen 65'])
8 May 2022
Ref: Robert Jones
Att: 26,428
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 14
West ham United won: 6, Drawn: 6, lost: 2
Goals: 26, Against: 14
League position: 7th
Fabianski
Coufal
Zouma
Dawson (Noble)
Cresswell
Rice
Lanzini
Fornals
Benrahma (Vlasic)
Bowen
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
West Ham United returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 4-0 victory away to Norwich City. The Hammers had established a much-deserved three-goal advantage by the half-time whistle, as two well-taken goals by Saïd Benrahma sandwiched Michail Antonio’s close-range finish.
The Canaries thought they had found a route back into the game just after half-time, only for Sam Byram’s effort to be ruled out by VAR for handball, before Manuel Lanzini added West Ham’s fourth from the penalty spot after another VAR check ruled a handball against Jacob Sørensen.
The win moves the Hammers to within three points of sixth-placed Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League qualifying places, having played one game fewer.
Norwich City:
Krul, Aaron, Hanley, Williams, Byram, Gilmour, Sørensen, Rashica (Springett), Dowell (Placheta), Lees-Melou (Rupp), Pukki
MANCHESTER CITY
London Stadium
2 - 2 (Bowen 21', 45')
15 May 2022
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Att: 59,972
Fabianski
Coufal
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Bowen
Lanzini (Noble)
Fornals (Johnson)
Antonio (Yarmolenko)
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 42
West Ham United won: 9, Drawn: 8, lost: 25
Goals: 40, Against: 75
Fabianski saved a penalty 86 mins
League position: 7th
Jarrod Bowen scored two superb goals and Łukasz Fabiański saved a late penalty as West Ham United secured a heroic 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester City in Mark Noble’s final home game as a Hammer.
Bowen continued his outstanding season with two well-taken strikes in the first half before Pep Guardiola’s title-chasers fought back to level midway through the second. And it looked like City would complete their comeback when Anthony Taylor awarded the visitors a spot-kick on review for a Craig Dawson foul on Gabriel Jesus, only for Fabiański to fly high to his left and push Riyad Mahrez’s shot away.
By that time, David Moyes had introduced his 35-year-old Club captain for a farewell appearance – his 549th and possibly last in Claret and Blue.
Manchester City:
Ederson, João Cancelo, Laporte, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Grealish, Gabriel Jesus
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Amex Stadium
1 - 3 (Antonio 40')
22 May 2022
Ref: Kevin Friend
Att: 31,604
Kick-off: 4:00pm
Premier League Head to Head: Played: 10
West Ham United won: 0, Drawn: 6, lost: 4
Goals: 12, Against: 20
Mark Noble 550 games - 414th PL club record
Final League position: 7th
Fabianski
Coufal (Johnson)
Dawson
Zouma
Cresswell
Rice
Soucek
Fornals (Noble)
Lanzini (Yarmolenko)
Bowen
Antonio
West Ham United will play UEFA Conference League football next season after a 3-1 final-day defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Hammers arrived in Sussex knowing victory, combined with a Manchester United draw or defeat at Crystal Palace, and they would finish sixth and be packing their suitcases for another crack at the UEFA Europa League.
And at half-time everything was going to plan, with the Irons leading through Michail Antonio’s 40th-minute thunderbolt and Manchester United losing at Selhurst Park.
However, Joël Veltman’s equaliser five minutes after the break, Pascal Groß’s strike 13 minutes from full-time and Danny Welbeck’s added-time header meant David Moyes’ side had to settle for seventh, despite the Red Devils failing to turn things around in south London.
In truth, West Ham probably did not warrant anything more at the American Express Community Stadium, where Brighton had more than twice as many goal attempts as the visitors.
Brighton & Hove Albion:
Sánchez, Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Cucurella, Bissouma (Maupay), Caicedo (Mwepu), March (Lamptey), Groß, Mac Allister, Welbeck
