Lingard sparks West Ham charge
Sheffield Utd
There were moments when Jesse Lingard appeared to be playing this match on fast-forward while everyone else was stuck on default speed. Rejuvenated and liberated by his move, Lingard cruised through the night with a drive and invention that made one question how he ever could have fallen out of favour at Manchester United.
This is the version of Lingard that English football had come to expect, in those days when he was one of the country’s most exciting attacking players. In recent months that had felt like a distant memory but here he issued another reminder, following his two goals against Aston Villa earlier this month, that he is no spent force.
West Ham United’s loanee ran this game from an attacking midfield position, playing with a speed of thought and foot that Sheffield United were simply unable to handle. He surged in behind, he threatened from range, he dribbled at will.
He dominated the occasion, providing the attacking spark as David Moyes and his players secured the three points that took them above Liverpool in the table and continued their push for Europe.
Even without main striker
Michail Antonio, West Ham keep on rolling forward. A different attack brought a different sort of threat but, with Lingard in this form and Jarrod Bowen darting around him, there was danger for the visitors at every turn.
“Jesse’s ability has always been there,” said Moyes, who believes his team still have another gear to find. “He is a talented footballer and we knew he could give us something different in the final third. We needed a few more attacking aspects to our game and he has done very well.”
Lingard’s brilliance brought about a Declan Rice penalty, before Issa Diop headed home a second after the break. Ryan Fredericks then added a third to underline West Ham’s dominance on the night. In all it was another gruelling match for the Premier League’s bottom side, who also lost key defender John Egan to what looked like a serious injury. “You can’t make it easy for the opposition,” said the manager, Chris
The Daily Telegraph
Wilder. “We gift-wrapped two goals. If we continue to make the mistakes we did tonight, there is no chance for us.”
Sheffield United’s aggressive approach to matches has been fundamental to their success in recent years, but there is a fine line between combative and rash. They crossed that line as early as the fifth minute, when Enda Stevens clattered Craig Dawson in the penalty box, but they were saved by a Var review that showed Dawson to be offside.
The overturned decision prevented Rice from taking an early penalty, although it was not long before another chance arrived.
Once again it was Lingard tearing upfield, stealing the ball and charging into the penalty area, where he was wiped out in agricultural fashion by Chris Basham. No need for a Var review this time.
Lingard fancied taking this one himself, and appeared to express that view to his captain. But Rice swiftly exerted his authority on the newcomer, telling him they would
be “battered” by Moyes if they upset the agreed hierarchy.
The visitors pushed forward after falling behind but all the effort in the world cannot compensate for an inability to do the basics at the back, and no Sheffield United defender was capable of preventing Diop from doubling the lead from Aaron Cresswell’s delivery.
Diop’s goal was West Ham’s eighth from a corner this season. No team has scored more from such situations, and no team has conceded more from corners than Sheffield United. Such weaknesses explain why Wilder’s side remain bottom.
West Ham’s third, driven home by substitute Fredericks in stoppage time, did not flatter the home side. This was another step forward for them, and another night of excitement for a team who look all the better for the addition of Lingard to their attack.
West Ham United (3-4-3) Fabianski 7; Diop 7, Dawson 7, Cresswell 7; Coufal 6, Soucek 6, Rice 7, Johnson 6 (Fredericks 90+2); Lanzini 6 (Noble 63), Bowen 7, Lingard 8 (Benrahma 82). Subs Martin (g), Baptiste, Alves, Coventry, Fornals, Odubeko.
Sheffield United (3-5-2) Ramsdale 6; Basham 5, Egan 6 (Jagielka 85), Ampadu 5; Bogle 5, Lundstram 6, Norwood 5 (Mcburnie 62), Osborn 6, Stevens 6; Mcgoldrick 6, Sharp 6. Subs Foderingham (g), Baldock, Lowe, Burke, Brewster, Bryan, Maguire. Booked Basham, Lundstram.
Referee Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).