West Ham returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory, leaving opponents Burnley in grave danger of relegation. Securing three points saw the Hammers rise back to ninth in the league but it was not a convincing triumph – there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Burnley came to Upton Park with only one goal in eight games, looking for some inspiration as they continue to float further adrift at the foot of the Premier League. But it was the Hammers who were quicker out of the blocks and should have taken the lead just three minutes in when Aaron Cresswell whipped a tantalising ball between the defensive line and the goalkeeper. Enner Valencia was at full stretch but could not get the decisive touch from just 4 yards out.
Burnley grew into the contest after that early wake-up call and were looking threatening from wide positions. Former Hammer Matt Taylor was the main source of our troubles as he twice produced quality crosses; the first was just out of Ashley Barnes’ reach and a few minutes later Danny Ings peeled off young Reece Burke and should have done better with his free header. Just 8 yards out, he snatched at the chance and sent it high and wide.
The game erupted into life suddenly though, when West Ham were awarded a penalty and Michael Duff of Burnley saw red, reducing the visitors to ten men. Cheikhou Kouyate ventured into the box, skilfully sold Duff a dummy and was felled as he breezed past the unfortunate Burnley defender. No one questioned the penalty decision. The red card, however, looked extremely harsh on Burnley. Referee Jon Moss adjudged Duff to have been the last man and preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity but, with a man on the line and another coming across to cover, this was a cruel twist for Sean Dyche’s struggling side. This was no concern of Mark Noble’s though as the Hammers midfielder sent Tom Heaton the wrong way to fire West Ham into the lead.
Buoyant from the goal and enjoying the man advantage, West Ham went in search of a second. It almost came when Downing cut the ball back, Valencia peeled off his marker and laced a powerful drive from 8 yards out but somehow Heaton scrambled across and made a spectacular point-blank stop. Amalfitano, who looked lively all game, also saw his volleyed effort parried over by the defiant Heaton in the Burnley goal.
Burnley always looked menacing on the counter-attack, however, and Barnes ensured Adrian was on his toes as the Spaniard kept out the Burnley striker’s header from a corner. Trippier also sent a free kick harmlessly over the bar as Adrian looked to have it comfortably covered.
After half time, it was very much the same story. Ings was slipped in behind Cresswell but could only hit the side netting. Amalfitano spurned a great chance to double the lead after good build-up from Valencia and Nolan. Burnley came straight back up the other end and Adrian was alert enough to keep out Taylor’s goal-bound drive before West Ham broke back up the pitch and perhaps should have scored. Amalfitano’s back-heel was read by Cresswell but Kevin Nolan, unmarked 8 yards out, only managed to strike the ball straight at Heaton and Valencia’s effort dribbled wide from the rebound.
Moments later sparked more controversy. Downing broke away from Ben Mee and as the Burnley left-back dived in, Downing went hurtling to the floor claiming a penalty. The West Ham winger was incensed at not receiving a penalty and getting a yellow card for simulation but replays suggest that there was no contact and Downing was too theatrical.
The last half hour was more of an anti-climax with West Ham doing most of the pressing without ever looking like making an incision. Burke, Collins and Kouyate all had half-chances but Burnley’s ten man held firm, restricting us mainly to long-range efforts that were blocked. Even in the closing stages, West Ham looked more likely to double their lead than Burnley getting an equaliser. Carlton Cole headed his first touch narrowly over the bar and Kouyate hit a late volley which Jason Shackell blocked on the line.
So West Ham fans were treated to a rare win but, generally speaking, will probably be disgruntled and dissatisfied at this performance. Against the league’s bottom club who only had ten men for the vast majority of the game, you might have expected a bigger margin of victory. In reality, however, we were frankly toothless in attack and slow in the build-up. And if Burnley did not have a numerical disadvantage – as probably should have been the case – then we may not have picked up these three points. Positives to take from the game, though, include another confident and assured performance from young Reece Burke, Amalfitano staking his claim for a starting spot and Nene, who contributed a lively cameo at the end, gave Allardyce a reason to play him more frequently.
