Horror match for fans but Bilic makes his point
in these two games,” he admitted. “We won’t be raving about this game. We know to win matches we have to have more quality and that was missing.
“But it’s been a good week, we’ve another clean sheet and a point away. You cannot be too negative about it.”
It was a landmark afternoon as Gareth Barry played his 632nd Premier League game to match the record set by Ryan Giggs, and Andy Carroll made his 100th Premier League Hammers appearance.
But sadly there will be very little else that anyone at the Hawthorns will want to remember. “I’m best off talking about Gareth rather than the game,” admitted Albion boss Tony Pulis.
“From the outside over the years I’ve watched him play and always been a great admirer, but since bringing him into the club you recognise the absolute dedication and application towards his profession.”
In a game where both sides had just one attempt on target, the single bit of inspiration came from West Ham’s Pedro Obiang when he spotted Ben Foster off his line and tried an audacious shot from 45 yards. It dipped over the ex-England keeper, but crashed off the bar.
“That surprised everybody in the crowd and not just Foster,” said Pulis.
He was right. Beyond that piece of 29thminute opportunism it was a story of two decent defences and too many mistakes.
West Ham, with Carroll as their spearhead, probably did most to get a winner and were angry when Foster ran out to bring down Javier Hernandez as he ran on to Carroll’s flick. But even Bilic later admitted ref Paul Tierney was right to give a yellow card rather than red. “At the time I thought he should be sent off, but when I saw it later the ref was right,” he said.
WEST HAM 1 ............ Shots on Target ......... 1 3 ........... Shots off Target ........ 5 2 ............. Blocked Shots .......... 3 2 ................... Corners ................ 3 15 .................... Fouls ................... 7 3 .................. Offsides ................ 2 2 .............. Yellow Cards ........... 2 0 ................. Red Cards .............. 0 73.4 ...... Passing Success.. 85.5 7 ................... Tackles ................ 9 100 ........ Tackles Won % .... 66.7 36.8 .......... Possession ........ 63.2 48.4 .... Territorial Adv %...51.6 289 .......... Total Passes ....... 484 15 ............ Total Crosses ......... 33 38.2 ......... 1st Half Poss ........ 61.8 35.3 ........ 2nd Half Poss ...... 64.7 Foster 6, Dawson 6, Hegazi 7, Evans 7, Gibbs 6 (Nyom 84), Krychowiak 5, Barry 6, Brunt 6 (Robson-Kanu 72, 5), Morrison 5, Phillips 5 (McClean 76), Rodriguez 5. Subs not used: Myhill, Yacob, Rondon, McAuley.
Hart 6, Fonte 6, Reid 7, Collins 6 (Arnautovic 58, 5); Zabaleta 6, Obiang 6, Kouyate 5, Cresswell 6, Antonio 6, Hernandez 4 (Ayew 76, 5), Carroll 7 (Sakho 81). Subs not used: Adrian, Ogbonna, Mauaku, Rice. REFEREE: Paul Tierney 7.