Benrahma’s moment of madness hits Hammers
WEST HAM rejected a Marseille bid yesterday for winger Said Benrahma. After his act of petulance en route to this FA Cup exit, David Moyes might wish to reconsider that ‘not for sale’ stance.
Championship Bristol City had a plan to rough up their Premier League visitors. But when Joe Williams flew into Benrahma, the Algerian responded with a kick into his opponent’s nether regions. Not even VAR was needed to know it was worthy of red and Moyes blanked Benrahma as he disappeared down the tunnel.
Whether we will see him again in a West Ham shirt remains to be seen. He will now miss their next three games, at least, though some might say he has been missing for most of this season.
Ashton Gate was a sellout as the locals sensed an upset. The 9,000 Bristolians at the London Stadium for the first match were disappointed to leave with a draw, knowing they were the better team after Tommy Conway’s equaliser.
Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta succumbed to injuries that day, and with so many men sidelined, David Moyes named only eight substitutes here. Six of them were academy graduates.
West Ham’s attack consisted of Maxwel Cornet, Danny Ings and Benrahma. It could have started so well for this emergency front three, if only Ings could have caught up with Cornet’s through-ball. Instead, he looked like a man who had not started a game since November as it remained out of reach until City goalkeeper Max O’Leary cleared.
That clearance left West Ham’s Konstantinos Mavropanos in possession. He tried to pass back to Lukasz Fabianski, but the Greek added another error to his growing list. It was short enough for Conway to intercept before rolling the ball into the empty net, 11 seconds after Ings’ chance.
The West Ham striker’s night worsened when Joe Williams stuck his studs into his leg. If VAR was in use, Williams would have been in big trouble, but referee Darren England awarded nothing.
Cornet volleyed wide from inside six yards and a flowing move from the Hammers left Ings with the chance to grab his first goal of the season, yet the 31-year-old made a mess of it.
Fabianski was also needed twice, first to stop Anis Mehmeti’s drive and then to catch Ross McCrorie’s header.
In the 49th minute, Williams fouled Benrahma. It was a yellow card all day long, yet Benrahma kicked out with both feet at his opponent. How he thought he would get away with it only he knows. England reached for his red card.
There was an edge to the game as Aaron Cresswell and Taylor Gardner-Hickman squared up and West Ham came close when Tomas Soucek’s volley was tipped over by O’Leary. After 80 minutes, there was a big cheer from away fans as youngsters Divin Mubama and Callum Marshall were brought on. Finally, felt the fans.
But the kids could not save West Ham.
BRISTOL CITY (3-4-2-1): O’Leary 7; Tanner 7, Vyner 7, Dickie 7; McCrorie 7 (Bell 61min, 6), Williams 6.5, James 7, Pring 7; GardnerHickman 7 (Knight 75, 6), Mehmeti 7 (Cornick 75, 6); CONWAY 7.5 (Wells 61, 6). Scorers: Conway 3. Booked: Williams, Gardner-Hickman. Manager: Liam Manning 7. WEST HAM (3-4-3): Fabianski 6; Mavropanos 4, Zouma 6, Cresswell 6 (Marshall 81); Coufal 6 (Johnson 66, 6), Ward-Prowse 6, Soucek 6, Emerson 6; Cornet 5, Ings 5 (Mubama 81), Benrahma 3. Booked: Cresswell. Sent off: Benrahma. Manager: David Moyes 5. Referee: Darren England 5. Attendance: 25,616.