WEST HAM’S GUARD OF HONOUR THAT LASTED 90 MINUTES
City make hapless Hammers pay for rolling out red carpet
WHEN David Moyes talked about training without the ball in preparation for facing Manchester City, it made a bit of sense.
But come the match, the fact the ball was under the spell of the newly crowned English champions appeared to surprise a West Ham side sitting precariously just above the relegation places.
Here at the London Stadium, the ball proved remarkably difficult for the hosts to control, bouncing off various body parts before flying into their goal.
First came a deflection off the head of Patrice Evra that wrongfooted Adrian and enabled Leroy Sane to put City in front. Then an all- the- more comical moment when Pablo Zabaleta was awarded City’s 100th goal of the Premier League campaign. It was also Zabaleta’s 13th City goal — but his first as a West Ham player.
For a team who had greeted their visitors with a guard of honour, this was way too hospitable, defending at its most chaotic and hapless.
No matter that Moyes (right) had tried to inject extra solidity into his defence by slotting Evra into the back three with Aaron Cresswell and Zabaleta on the flanks.
After less than half an hour they were two goals down, the second the result of the anxiety that spread when Adrian rushed off his line, only to fail in his attempt to clear. It was left to Angelo Ogbonna to head away Raheem Sterling’s shot but when Ilkay Gundogan collected the ball and invited Kevin De Bruyne to drive in a cross, West Ham contrived to guide it across their own line via Adrian’s outstretched hand and the shins of Declan Rice and Zabaleta. That split-second of penalty-box pinball demanded a response and in the first- half minutes that remained, West Ham did display some resolve, reducing the deficit shortly before the break when Gundogan caught Edimilson Fernandes with a clumsy challenge. Invited to take the freekick, Cresswell beat Ederson with a beautiful strike. Moyes was suddenly energised, an animated figure urging his troops to maintain the pressure, perhaps sensing that the side with the title in the bag might be taking their foot off the gas. But the pursuit of history and Premier League records for points and goals, Guardiola explained afterwards, are motivation enough for this irrepressible City side. And, eight minutes into the second half, an exquisite one-two between Gabriel Jesus and Sterling made it 3-1.
In scoring his 16th goal of the season, Jesus excelled, first with the ball that sent Sterling racing down the right flank and then the touch, skill and finish to control his colleague’s delivery before guiding his finish beyond the advancing Adrian.
West Ham were now in serious trouble, and Moyes made a triple substitution that would see Manuel Lanzini, Evra and Fernandes simultaneously hooked. But before a suitable break in play arrived, Lanzini lost possession cheaply in midfield to Fernandinho, who also employed Sterling as both his outlet and provider and, almost unopposed, converted another neat delivery from the England winger.
With only 64 minutes gone, this was fast turning into yet another damaging, demoralising defeat for a West Ham side thumped 4-1 by Arsenal in their previous game.
Boos and jeers greeted the sight of those three substitutions and understandably so. By the time the fourth official had signalled for three extra minutes, the place was half-empty.
As West Ham supporters trudged across the Olympic Park, they must have realised their team now have a goal difference of -24, with a trip to Leicester and home games against Manchester United and Everton to follow. The latter two, you imagine, are unlikely to be games Moyes will relish. In 18th place, Southampton have three less points but a goal difference of - 19 and trips to Everton and Swansea as well as a meeting with City. Not easy, either but, having beaten Bournemouth on Saturday, they at least have a bit of momentum.
Stopping City will not, of course, be easy. As they close in on Carlo Ancelotti’s 2010 Chelsea side, they remain ravenous in their appetite for goals.
Yesterday, they enjoyed 75 per cent of possession, unleashing 19 shots to West Ham’s four.
They were, Moyes conceded, too good, and they were also driven by their manager’s desire to protect the integrity of the competition by not making it easy for their hosts. It was anything but. Indeed, it was an almighty struggle. WEST HAM (5-3-1-1): Adrian 4; Zabaleta 4.5, Rice 4.5, Ogbonna 4, Evra 4 (Masuaku 66min, 5), Cresswell 5.5; Kouyate 5, Noble 5.5, Fernandes 5 (Mario 66, 5); Lanzini 4.5 (Hernandez 66, 5); Arnautovic 4.5. Subs not used: Trott, Carroll, Hugill, Cullen. Scorer: Cresswell 42. Booked: None. Manager: David Moyes 5. MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson 6.5; Walker 7 (Danilo 61, 6), Otamendi 7, Laporte 7, Delph 7; De Bruyne 7.5, Fernandinho 7.5, Gundogan 7 (Toure 71, 6); Sane 7, Jesus 7.5 (Nmecha 80), STERLING 8. Subs not used: Bravo, B Silva, Mendy, Foden. Scorers: Sane 13, Zabaleta 27 (og), Jesus 53, Fernandinho 64. Booked: Otamendi. Manager: Pep Guardiola 7.5 Referee: Neil Swarbrick 5.5 Attendance: 56,904.