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David Hautzig's Match Report

West Ham 3, Sheffield United 0. How High Can We Go?

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The backup striker argument, or lack thereof, was once again front and center at The London Stadium today when Antonio was ruled out for….surprise….a hamstring injury. When Moyes signed Lingard on loan, his supposed ability to play anywhere along the front line was given as a reason. It became more important when January ended and nobody replaced Haller. Now I have been, and still am supportive of that decision in that saving the money for the summer as opposed to signing yet another Sullivan-Agent special felt prudent. Today did nothing but strengthen that opinion.

The first opportunity of the day happened in the 5th minute when Rice stepped up to take a free kick from just outside the Sheffield United eighteen yard box. He took it low, and Ramsdale went down to push the ball wide. But when Dawson chased it down, he was fouled by Stevens and for the first time this season a referee pointed to the spot for a West Ham penalty. Buuuuuut, VAR had other ideas and although it was indeed a foul Dawson was offside and West Ham remained the only team in the EPL not to be awarded a kick from the spot.

Three minutes after the penalty that wasn’t, Norwood sent a super cross into the box that McGoldrick was able to get a foot on but it went straight up in the air. Sheffield won a corner seconds later, and Dawson’s attempted headed clearance almost became an own goal. The second corner was dealt with much better.

West Ham broke on the attack in the 14th minute, and it gave a glimpse of what we planned to do without Antonio. It was all about pace, fluidity, and movement, with Bowen feeding Lanzini who then fed Lingard. The loanee cut to his right and tried to beat Ramsdale to the far post but he went down to make the save.

The Hammers won a corner in the 24th minute when Lingard was sent on a run by a long pass from Coufal, but when he got in the box the angle was tight and Ramsdale gave him nothing to shoot at. Dawson got his head on the delivery from Bowen, but it went over the bar. Five minutes later West Ham won a free kick 25 yards from goal, but Cresswell went for goal and was nowhere near it.

The Blades won a corner in the 36th minute when Lingard lost the ball at midfield, and the visitors broke. Osborn collected a low pass and fired a shot that Fabianski decided to take no chances on and pushed it behind. Dawson dealt with the delivery and the threat was over.

West Ham broke forward in the 39th minute, and it was the speedy three again. Lingard got on the end of a pass in the box and he was simply bowled over by Basham. The referee pointed to the spot, and this time VAR didn’t even bother. But the drama was still there when Rice walked up to Lingard and basically told him “gimme the ball”. Lingard did not look too pleased, but he listened to his captain and gave him the ball. I texted my WhatsApp group that he had better score. He did.

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West Ham 1
Sheffield United 0

Johnson won The Hammers a corner in the final seconds of the half. But Lingard’s delivery found nothing and Sheffield cleared.

Halftime
West Ham 1
Sheffield United 0

Sheffield United almost leveled in the 52nd minute when Sharp chased down a ball at the end line and chipped a cross that McGoldrick headed towards goal. It deflected off of Johnson, and Fabianski reached up and was able to just parry the ball over the bar for a Sheffield corner. The set piece wasn’t nearly as nervy for the hosts.

When Issa Diop scores, not that he does it a lot, the primary element of his celebration is sticking his tongue as far out as he can. Looks like the old pro wrestler George The Animal Steel. West Ham won a corner of their own in the 57th when Lanzini rolled a nicely weighted pass for Bowen in the eighteen yard box, but Egan got in the way of the shot and put it out for the set piece. Cresswell put the delivery into the box, and the bell that was rung on Tuesday had more than enough in it to direct the ball past Ramsdale. Cue the tongue.

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West Ham 2
Sheffield United 0

McGoldrick had another good look a goal in the 62nd minute when Soucek was able to just get his foot in front of the striker in pink’s shot and send it over the bar. The corner came into the box, and after a scramble Basham was whistled for a foul and West Ham were given a goal kick. Five minutes later McGoldrick was fed a fantastic opportunity to get his side back into the match when Stevens found him in front of Fabianski. He really should have scored with his unmarked header. The fact that he didn’t is indicative of the year they are having.

You know what Lingard does? He shoots. Lingard makes the keeper stop the shot anytime he can. He won West Ham a corner in the 70th minute with a dipping strike from 25 yards out. The Hammers took the set piece short, and then won another set piece when Lingard was fouled. Moments later Coufal was sent in alone after winning the ball back deep in Sheffield United territory. Not exactly a position right backs find themselves in too often. Ramsdale came out to meet him and made a good save with his arm. You could say he should have buried that (which a friend did say). Maybe. Bowen or Lingard, yes. Coufal? Nah.

Sheffield United had another opportunity in the 80th minute when Osborn sent another good corner into the box, and this time it was McBurnie who got his head to it but Fabianski made the save. Seconds later Soucek fed Lingard in the box, and had Egan not gone into a full stretch to make the tackle Lingard looked on target. It was both players last action of the day as Lingard was replaced by Benrahma and Egan was taken off on a stretcher with what looked like an ankle injury from the tackle.

Sheffield United won a corner in the first of the six minutes of added time after McGoldrick had his shot from close range deflected out. But the delivery flew over everyone and bounced back out for a goal kick. Moments later Lundstram fired his own shot from twenty yards out that went over the bar.

Benrahma may not have a goal yet, but his ability in tight spaces is fun to watch. Deep in stoppage time the Algerian danced in and around what looked like ten pink shirts before rolling a pass to Fredericks, who whipped a low right footed shot into the back of the net.

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Final Score
West Ham 3
Sheffield United 0

There are so many things I am simply not used to this season. Never mind being in the top four as I type this, because even though I dare to dream I highly doubt it will happen. The biggest thing I’m trying to wrap my head around is the number of players who are noteworthy after each win. My MOTM today? Diop. I said to my mates that when Ogbonna got hurt I had no doubt Diop would seize the moment to make Moyes job very hard when the Italian returns. Dawson was fantastic yet again, Lingard offered as many outlets as a striker in my opinion, Rice controlled the midfield, and Johnson was composed well beyond his years. I expected a 2-0 win, and we got a 3-0 win instead.

Expectations continue to be exceeded.

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