A 0-0 draw with AFC Bournemouth was on the cards for West Ham United on Saturday. The result means that the Hammers failed to close the gap to safety, but kept a clean sheet in another defensively strong performance.
Rightly, a lot of the conversation will be on the Iron’s failure to find the net in this game, having had 20 shots in total. Despite this, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team continue to display much better fundamental’s in defence, with keeper Mads Hermansen, telling the club’s official website that there are lots of positives to build from:
“We said on the pitch that if we can’t win the game, then we don’t lose it. Of course you always want to win, but we’ve got a point and the clean sheet, so I think there are still a lot of positives.
“I think it was quite an even game, to be fair. We had some good opportunities, but so did they, and we perhaps could have been sharper when we had the ball at times.
“We did a lot of work in our half, and a lot of our good opportunities came from counter-attacks, but I think sometimes we maybe could have kept the ball a bit better. They were dangerous on the counter as well, so maybe we could have played it easier on the ball, but otherwise I think we did well.
“I think we look solid at the back, and good on the ball we when we’re building. Of course, we play for a reason, to create space and move with the ball, and that helped us create opportunities, so overall I think there’s a lot to be pleased about.”
Mads Hermansen’s defensive partners
Hermansen returned to the starting XI against Burnley, helping the Hammers to a 2-0 win. That game was also the first for deadline day signing, Axel Disasi, who came in to partner Konstantinos Mavropanos in central defence.
Together, the three players have been apart of the Irons last two clean sheets, forming a strong partnership that has kept the returning Jean-Clair Todibo out of the team.
“The atmosphere was great. Every time we had a corner you could hear the fans, and when we attacked, they gave us great energy. It was great to be on the pitch today, in the stadium.
“I actually asked Axel after the Burnley game when he last played, and when he said it was April I was a bit shocked! He’s brought a lot of stability to the defence, and on the ball as well he is really good. Together with Dinos [Mavropanos], I think he’s been amazing.
“We have to all keep going now. We know we need wins and a lot of points, but we have to take the positives from today and keep fighting.”
The West Ham shot stopper’s strong performances
Since regaining the starting spot, Hermansen has been one of West Ham’s best players. The big Dane has come in and commanded his area, forming a strong bond with those in front of him.
After a stellar game against West Ham, the 25-year-old has now made 25 saves in his eight Hammers appearances so far. The game backed up his man of the match performance against Burnley, in a fixture that has really set off the Hammers good run of form.
At present, Hermanson takes 1.29 high claims per 90 and is averaging just under 50% clean sheets in all his appearances for the club. The keeper could be huge as West Ham look to stay up this season.
