Wheels Come Off W(H)agon

It was almost inevitable that the injuries players have sustained would eventually catch up with West Ham, it was indeed unfortunate that fate complied to exacerbate the situation with an absolutely calamitous Hammers first half performance against Newcastle. The key stone cops first goal swiftly followed by Dawson's second yellow was a mere portent of what was to come.

Lukasz Fabianski must have thought he was back playing for Arsenal, as he was at fault in the main for the two goals conceded in the first half, especially the 2nd. The defence desperately missed the Cresswell/Masuaku combo, and boy did it show! Moyes's team did give it a real go in the second half, with Diop being slightly able to atone for his early error(s) with his headed goal, and with Jesse Lingard converting the penalty contentiously awarded, it seemed that the Irons were going to pull off an unlikely draw with just the ten men.

Alas it was not to be, as Newcastle finally made their one man advantage pay as Hammers were overwhelmed, and substitute Joe Willock was ablt to out fox the otherwise relatively solid Ben Johnson to slot home, Johnson having previously made a goal bound clearance with Fabianski clearly beaten.To make matters worse, Jesse Lingard was forced to leave the pitch half way through the additional eight minutes of injury time, with what looked like either the best case scenario, an acute case of cramp, or more worryingly his hamstring.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea can move above West Ham before the club take on their West London neighbours next Saturday, Chelsea will have played Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final and Brighton & Hove Albion before then, they also have a Champions League match to play just after the 'six point showdown' with the Irons at the London Stadium, a game that will define Hammers European hopes.

Next Saturday's game is the one, somehow the medical staff have got to revive Lingard, get Big Mich Antonio, as well as Cresswell and Masuaku, on to the pitch, with those four players at least the team will stand a chance of success, albeit an outside one. - Ed