Nice to get off the mark with a win early doors in the season, I must admit after 35mins I thought this was going to be a routine win.
We played well from the off, better use of the football and after a 10-15min settling in period, you could see Lemina's presence out there and our midfield was well on top. We were heading for a 2-0 HT lead, which would have been well deserved on the pattern of the game - but we gave away such a rubbish goal, just on the break. Antonio wasn't closed down and was allowed to shoot, Forster parried and there was the ultimate 6 yard box goal scorer. The game changed on that moment and the 2nd half was now a completely different game.
We started the 2nd half nervy, and allowed West Ham to get a real foothold in the game - you wouldn't have had any idea they had 10 men. We lost control in the middle and our two centre backs were being quite clearly targeted by long balls, as they'd worked out we weren't winning anything in the air today - and low and behold, that's how they got their 2nd. Ball whipped into the box, Sacko rises above everyone and heads towards goal - to be fair, it was a brilliant point blank save by Fraser....but who was following up, mr 6 yard box again....good finish as well. We'd somehow contrived to throw a game away which at 35 mins we were coasting, frustrated was an understatement.
There were periods as the remaining 20 mins went on that you felt they could get a third, they still continued to target us in the air and Yoshida and Stephens were not dealing with anything. Fair play to MPe for bringing on two strikers, that allowed us to stretch the game a little more - JWP played on the right attacking midfield slot and really made an impact I felt (our midfield was tiring, and he added freshness), always looking to get onto the ball, probing, using it well etc. No surprise then that the goal came from his cross into the box, which was a terrific delivery - Yoshida at the back post coming in and for some inexplicable reason (not that I care) the experienced Zabaelta decided to pull him, from where I was it looked like he allowed the ref to make a decision - it was silly defending at that stage of the game. Charlie may not have done a great deal when he came on, but fair play to him for standing up and taking that pen - it was put away with aplomb and all is well in the world again! We got the win we deserved, but not without trying our hardest to throw it away...!
Quick note on a couple of the players - Bertrand was totally off it today, what was up with him? Couldn't keep up with the ball, was lacking pace, kept giving the ball away. He really didn't look quite right, hard to say what was wrong. Redmond, especially in the 2nd half, was frigging garbage - his place in that team is hanging in a balance, we're targeting another wide attacker and we have Boufal on the bench....he should be looking over his shoulder if that's the level he's going to be putting in for us!
Onto the good points......after about 10-15mins adjusting for Lemina, during which he gave some rubbish balls away, he settled down - he started playing a more sensible game. Hard to read a great deal after 60 mins, but he looks very athletic and is a bit of a beast, not afraid to go in for a tackle and does have a bit of an edge as well.....him and Romeu could be quite a partnership. He gives our midfield a lot more of a dynamic aspect. Gabbiadini had a great game I felt, he was making terrific runs all afternoon and was well picked out for the first goal - which was a great finish. He was a threat all afternoon with his running off the ball and it was a promising appearance by him.
Pretty clear that we lack a presence at the back, that's no surprise - hopefully the signing of Hoedt will fill that gap and at least give us some presence in terms of winning the ball, which we severely lacked today. But lots to be positive about from the first two games in my opinion, carrying much more of a threat and the rest of the team is getting up with the attack a lot quicker (well, in the first half anyway...!)
Onto the next one...
