My best mate, Jon, is an attorney. His work allows him to collect air miles the way we used to collect sports trading cards as kids. London is a regular destination, but his travel dates don’t always cooperate with him to visit Upton Park. Last season he was able to attend one game. Home against Sunderland. It was, by virtually any measure, one of the most dire matches seen in East London for years. West Ham’s lone moment of happiness that game came when James Tomkins ran with the ball. He did nothing with it, but the act of exerting energy that day was worth noting. For 88 minutes, today’s match was only a little better. Then it was much better.
Full disclosure. I saw this game in two ways. The first way was by sneaking glimpses on my IPhone before taking my kids to the theatre, and then during intermission. The second was in the evening courtesy of my DVR. There is something to be said for knowing the result while watching the game. Far easier on the nerves.
There are narratives before some games that just stare you in the face and seem certain to come to fruition. Today, would anybody have been shocked if Jermain Defoe had scored? In the opening 15 minutes of the game Defoe had a number chances to write that chapter. In the third minute Van Aanholt slid a pass to Fletcher, who tried to get the ball to Defoe but Cresswell intervened and sent the ball out for a corner. Minutes later Defoe chased down a ball outside the 18-yard box and sent a cross to Wickham. The man Sam thought would be better than Sakho did a good job to control the pass with his chest and hit a volley that Adrian did well to stop. Then in the 15th minute Fletcher sent Defoe in alone on Adrian but his shot sailed over the bar in what could only be described as a wasted chance.
The Hammers then started to ask a few questions of the Black Cats. Sakho won West Ham their first corner, and then a few minutes later outfought Van Aanholt on the touchline and sent a quick cross into Nolan whose shot was saved by Pantilimon. A minute later Jarvis found the Senegalese Superman in the box with a cross but Sakho’s header went just wide.
A few months ago, I would have supported a deal to sign Alex Song on a permanent contract regardless of the cost. Thankfully I have nothing to say on such matters. In the 32nd minute, a Mark Noble free kick into the box was cleared only as far as Song. In what almost looked like a carbon copy of the disallowed goal against Arsenal in December, Song’s volley went through a crowd in the Sunderland penalty area and forced a diving save by Pantilimon.
There are many on Twitter whose opinions I trust, usually more than my own. One of them, my other West Ham boss Graeme Howlett of KUMB, tweeted right after the game that referee Lee Mason had a shocker. The first of many moments that more than a few thought he botched was in the 34th minute. Jarvis collected the ball on the left, beat Vergini and sent a low cross into the box. Kevin Nolan tried to meet the pass but was tracked and seemingly held by Larsson, allowing Pantilimon to get their first. Was it a penalty? Based on Mason’s overall performance, I’d have to assume he screwed that up and West Ham should have gotten the ball on the spot.
Halftime: West Ham 0, Sunderland 0.
It’s pretty clear, if not downright transparent that Sakho does not show his best when he is played as a lone striker. Maybe that’s why Jarvis was replaced by Carlton Cole to start the second half despite Jarvis being one of West Ham’s better performers in the opening 45. Yet Sakho’s will and athleticism allow him to pose a threat even in less than ideal circumstances. In the 52nd minute Cresswell pushed forward before sending yet another cross into the box. Despite jumping away from goal, Sakho was able to connect with his head and put the ball only inches wide of the post. A few minutes later Sakho’s mere presence and aggression forced Pantilimon to turn a simple back pass into a panic induced clearance for a West Ham throw.
In the 64th minute, Lee Mason again incurred the wrath of Captain Kev. After Wickham saw yellow for a harsh challenge on Noble, James Collins sent the free kick into the Sunderland area. The ball deflected off of John O’Shea and was coming right to Nolan. Once again Vergini took matters into his own hands, both literally and figuratively, and bear hugged Nolan. The offside flag had gone up, incorrectly because the ball had come off O’Shea, and Mason was spared having to make a penalty call. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and in this case they made two officials look incompetent.
In the 77th minute, Sunderland had their best opportunity of the half and it came from basically nothing. Van Aanholt picked up the ball near the center circle. He strolled in another 15 yards or so before firing a rocket off of his left foot that Adrian had to dive to his left to send wide for a Sunderland corner.
In the 85th minute, the television commentator gave a statistic that I can’t say I was aware of. West Ham were the only team in the Premier League to not score a goal in the final ten minutes of a match. I’m hoping that’s accurate since I’m quoting it here. But if that information is incorrect, it won’t matter because in the 88th minute West Ham got the late goal that in recent games they have conceded. Nene won a contentious header at the edge of the penalty area. The ball fell to Noble, who laid it off for Sakho. The Hammers leading striker and biggest bargain calmly slid the ball past Pantilimon and into the far right hand corner.
West Ham 1, Sunderland 0.
Glass Half Full version. With only one win since New Years, three points in any form is welcome. Despite being played as a lone striker, Diafra Sakho was menacing and forceful the entire 88 minutes he played leading to his winner. Kevin Nolan played well, as did Jenkinson and Collins. And of course, Sam can sleep tight tonight with visions of sugar plum clean sheets dancing in his head.
Glass Half Empty version. Coming into the game, Sunderland were as woeful as any team in England. Prior to last week, Aston Villa had only scored four away goals all season. They doubled that total in 45 minutes at The Stadium Of Light. It’s not like West Ham thoroughly dominated the game the way they did against Villa in October, only to have Guzan stand on his head. We had a few half chances, and were harshly treated by an awe inspiringly bad Lee Mason. But Defoe could have scored a couple, and Wickham came close. This was a game we should not have struggled to win.
Looking at both glasses, the only rational thing to do is have another drink and call it a night.