When the team selections were released for the match against Southampton many Hammers fans were deeply concerned to see just how many players were unavailable, Pablo Zabaleta's late withdrawal because of a virus meant that West Ham were not even able to fill the bench and had only six players available! So it was with some anxiety that fans began viewing, either at St Mary's or on Sky TV, there were plenty of elements in the mix, Saints were on a high, their fans intoxicated on the new blend of football Ralph Hasenhuttl had brought to their club in the wake of Mark Hughes' dismissal, also a certain Charlie Austin who always raises his game agaist West Ham due to some ill advised public comments about Austin's injury record made by West Ham's owners back in the day before they learned the wisdom of their ways.
However right from the off it was the visitors who were applying the pressure and although Saints started brightly, playing with the vim and purpose that is Hasenhuttl's trademark, it was West Ham who had the Lion's share of the possession and but for some profligate finishing Hammers could have been two up by half time. First Lucas Perez scuffed wide when he should have scored from an Aaron Cresswell cross, and then Robert Snodgrass curled wide from 18 yards with the goal gaping.
Hammers looked fitter and sharper than the hosts but fell behind to a freak own goal that was not an own goal but a hand ball by Redmond, his hand beat Fabianski who had denied Oriol Romeu twice and Redmond once before the ex Norwich man got the ball across the line. Hammers immediately set about redemption, which came less than three minutes later in the form of an exquisite Felipe Anderson goal, his angled drive from outside the box was a thing of beauty. The home side then gave things a go, but were superbly caught by a lightening counter attack that stemmed from their corner, Diop got the ball to Antonio who put on the after burners as he sped along and then clipped a wonderful pass to Anderson who finished with aplomb, two goals, seven minutes, job done.
Seven goals in his last ten games is making Anderson's transfer fee of £42 Million with add ons look to be a bit of a bargain in today's inflated market, Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with the 25 year old Brazilian's contribution but believes there is a lot more to come from Anderson. Pelle will also have been pleased with another bit of business done on the other end of the financial scale, the £7.5 Million paid for Fabianski is now looking an absolute steal, time and again he was called in to action, his old monicker of 'Flappyhandski' might have to be replaced by 'Safepairofhandski'.
There is very little recovery time before the next match, and it is to be hoped that there are no new additions to the already massive injury list, there is only so much a manager can do, Steve Claridge made the comment that he expected Pellegrini to guide the club up the table because "He is a good manager, I am tired of listening to people making excuses for managers, they are either good or they aren't, too many get away with too much".
Pelle will certainly have his work cut out to keep Hammers brilliant points return the way it has been, but in the manager the fans believe, as do the players, really believe. - Ed
