It’s not the same as an important world event, but I remember where I was when we beat Hull 2-1 at Upton Park. The ear cupping match. It was before I started these reports, a time I’m guessing some refer to as “the good ol’days”. It must have been mid week, because I was in my car streaming the audio in between work appointments. I didn’t realize how poor we were that day until that evening when I decided to watch the match on DVR. I guess that match ran through my mind all morning because despite the three points against Burnley, I thought we were downright fortunate to get those points. And while we needed all three points desperately again today, we needed to look better collecting them as well. We got the points. We did not get the performance we wanted.
In the opening minutes I was impressed with the pressing and energy shown. By Hull, unfortunately. But in the 8th minute, after good work by Carroll near the corner to keep possession, Payet won a free kick. But his delivery was easily cleared, yet right back to Payet for a second chance. His second delivery wasn’t any better, floating directly into the welcoming arms of Marshall.
The Hammers started to show some energy of their own around the 10th minute. First with a long pass to Carroll, then a Lanzini run into the box that Hull were lucky to clear. Then Antonio won a corner after a good run down the right. The set piece didn’t amount to anything, but Payet broke into the box and tried a left footed shot that was deflected out for another corner. In the 18th minute, Payet got on the end of a Carroll flick on and won yet another corner. For all of the possession in and around the Hull penalty area, Marshall wasn’t asked a single question.
In the 19th minute, Noble gave up the ball in midfield and Hull were able to launch a counter. Mbokani got the ball in the West Ham area and tried to attack Reid before attempting a low shot that went wide. The Hull striker was given another opportunity minutes later when Cresswell’s backpass looked like it was in mud. Mbokani ran onto it, and tried to chip over Randolph. Ninety nine times out of one hundred that would have been an opening goal for Hull. Instead it hit the post and skipped across the goalmouth. Moments later, Hull won their first corner of the match. This time it was Randolph instead of lumber that saved West Ham when his left hand stopped Maguire’s header from hitting the back of the net.
After Antonio won a corner in the 29th minute, it was Hull that took advantage and launched a counter. Snodgrass fed Mbokani, who then rolled a pass to Clucas but his attempt went over the bar. A minute later, Carroll won a free kick thirty yards from goal. West Ham have scored half their goals this season from set pieces, so hopes probably lifted for a moment. The moment died as the ball sailed straight to Marshall.
In the 35th minute, Obiang was shown a yellow card for a studs up challenge. The Hull free kick was flicked on by Dawson to Mbokani, but his volley went over the bar. Moments later Maguire sent a low shot through a crowded West Ham penalty area, forcing Randolph to make the save.
As the first half wound down, Lanzini gave up possession in midfield and Hull broke on yet another counter. The ball ended up at the feet of Livermore in the box, but his shot went wide. Minutes later Maguire was sent running into the West Ham box on the end of a well-weighted long pass. He didn’t get a shot off, but Obiang almost sent it in for him tracking back. Thankfully for West Ham the ball rolled just wide. In added time, after yet another giveaway by the Hammers Snodgrass stepped over the ball to try a free kick from thirty yards out. Hull were whistled for being offside, but the fact remained that West Ham were utterly awful in the opening forty five minutes and heard more than a few jeers as they walked off the pitch.
Halftime.
West Ham 0.
Hull 0.
The criticism on social media was pretty consistent. Not just for today, but in years past. The manager only knows one way to play, and once that has been found out we are doomed. Bilic did make two changes to start the second half with Ayew and Fernandes replacing Obiang and Lanzini. My guess was Obiang would have stayed on if it weren’t for the yellow card in the first half that will see him miss the Boxing Day clash with Swansea. That move allowed Antonio to move forward into a more attacking position. At least in the opening minutes of the second half, the home side looked no better than they had in the first half. Incapable of retaining the ball, while they allowed Hull to break into the midfield and points forward.
Lady Luck let West Ham off the hook again in the 59th minute when Hull worked the ball down the left. Snodgrass rolled the ball for Maguire, who tried a cross that Noble thought he was heading clear. Instead he headed it onto the post and out for a corner. Minutes later, in what can only be attributed to God wearing Claret and Blue, Robertson fired a shot off the same post. Three saves by the woodwork or else this match, and possibly other things, would be done and dusted.
West Ham at least gave the home supporters something to lean forward for in the 62nd minute when Noble sent a cross into the box. Carroll got to it first, but Marshall was able gather it before Antonio could get his famous noggin on it.
Then began a stretch of five minutes that probably meant sure death to any supporter on either side with a cardiac condition. First, West Ham won a corner. Payet sent the ball into the box where Ayew came inches away from his first goal in a West Ham shirt when his header was cleared off the line by Robertson. Hull broke on a counter straight away, and after a fortunate bounce off Mbokani Clucas was through on goal. But Kouyate found another gear to get back and make a potentially goal saving tackle. Two minutes later, it was West Ham’s turn to clear a ball off the line when Maguire’s header beat Randolph but Fernandes was there to save to day.
For all the years we would lament never being on the good side of penalty decisions, there is an irony that in two must win matches we were awarded two penalties that ultimately decided those matches. After a long, powerful run by Antonio to relieve West Ham from even more Hull pressure, Dawson took one for his team in stopping Antonio. That foul gave Payet another free kick inside his comfort zone. The delivery didn’t cause any direct problems, but the ensuing action did. The ball dropped to Antonio in the box, and he went down after turning smartly on Huddlestone. Mason pointed at the spot.
“Never a pen” said Nigel in a text.
“Gotta call that” said Jon seconds later in a separate, competing message.
I’m with Nigel on that, but beggars can’t be choosy. This time Noble didn’t need the rebound.
West Ham 1
Hull 0
West Ham did search for a second, and they might have found one on another day. In the 80th minute, Antonio was sent through by Ayew before being fouled again by Huddlestone. Payet stepped up to take another free kick but it went over the bar. He was given another chance in the 84th, and that time Marshall had to get a palm on it and send it over the bar himself.
In the 88th, Payet showed why he is capable of things very few players are. With Ayew open on the right, Payet chose to thread a pass through two Hull defenders for Antonio. Most players end up lamenting their decision. Payet found Antonio, and while his first touch sent him clear on goal his need to get the ball to his right foot gave Clucas time to recover and win the ball.
When Cresswell made his awful backpass in the first half, you’d have been right to think that level of absurdity was out of his system for at least a few months. But in the 89th minute, Cresswell botched a clearance near midfield that allowed Hull to break. Snodgrass collected the ball and passed to Maguire on the right. He should have sent the ball back across the face of goal. Instead he shot weakly at Randolph who made the save easily.
In the second minute of extra time, Payet made a run worthy of a hamster’s maze before trying to curl a right footed shot past Marshall that didn’t curl enough or was hard enough to beat the Hull keeper.
Final Score.
West Ham United 1
Hull 0.
If Mike Phelan said in his post match comments that his side were unlucky, I would not argue with him. If Mike Phelan said in his post match comments that his side deserved something from the match, I would not argue with him. If Mike Phelan said in his post match comments that the penalty was soft if not a bad call, I would not argue with him.
If anybody says these six points from the past two matches mean all is well, I would likely argue with them. Not because I want to, but because our performances in the second half on Wednesday and the first half today were so abject that any decent side would have slaughtered us. Yet we showed resilience and determination against tougher opponents in Liverpool and Manchester United. I’m relieved to have some breathing space between us and the drop zone, yet when we desperately need answers we still have so many questions.