Quiet man Pellegrini has last word after double switch rocks Terriers
BEWARE the Quiet Man, a politician once warned. West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini may be older, greyer and less animated than opposite number David Wagner but the sixtysomething Chilean still made the bold changes to save his team.
West Ham were dreadful for 45 minutes and deservedly behind to Alex Pritchard’s sixth-minute goal. So Pellegrini threw on striker Javier Hernandez at half-time and winger Michail Antonio after 64 minutes.
Both were involved in Felipe Anderson’s 74th-minute equaliser when defeat would have sent the alarm bells sounding at the London Stadium.
‘The risk is not making changes when you’re not making chances. You must create options,’ explained Pellegrini.
‘We played very bad for 45 minutes. After Huddersfield scored we started doing it all wrong and they dominated.
‘The substitutes, Javier and Antonio, played very well. We scored and had three more good chances.’
West Ham should be grateful for Pellegrini being proactive at a tricky time for West Ham on and off the pitch. Huddersfield stay in the relegation zone and remain the Premier League’s lowest scorers. But Wagner can be proud of his team, who hit the woodwork three times in the first half.
The only downside was losing Chris Lowe with suspected shoulder ligament damage as he tried to vault over West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena approaching half-time.
Lowe could be out until the new year and Wagner said: ‘It looks like a serious ligament injury. We have to wait. He is in hospital and he will be out for a few weeks.’
Huddersfield were beaten 4-1 in this fixture last season. But buoyed by their first win of the campaign, 1-0 against Fulham on Monday night, they set about West Ham like men possessed and were ahead after six minutes.
Issa Diop overhit a pass to Anderson that flicked off the Brazilian’s foot and reached Pritchard via a miscontrol from Declan Rice and deflection off Pedro Obiang.
Pritchard played a one-two with Jonathan Hogg on the edge of the box and used Rice as a shield to shoot low between the youngster’s legs.
West Ham had a chance when Marko Arnautovic was denied by Jonas Lossl but were second best in the opening 45 minutes. Pellegrini had seen enough and hooked Grady Diangana for ‘Chicharito’ at the interval and then brought on Antonio.
The switches paid off and in, the 74th minute, Hammers were level after an almighty scramble in the Huddersfield box.
Hernandez and Antonio both had shots blocked but ball ran loose to Anderson who fired into the top corner from 16 yards. ‘A beautiful goal,’ said Pellegrini.
Wagner said: ‘It’s frustrating because we did so well in the first half.’