Deadbat
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It was another sorry afternoon for United as they lost yet again and continued their horrendous start to the season. After the embarrassment of last week at the Lane conceding 8 goals without reply to Newcastle, the Blades manager Paul Heckingbottom would have wanted a reaction. Sadly, he did not get one as once again they looked completely outmatched at this level. West Ham played the game almost at a practice match tempo but still carved United open time after time. They led by two goals at the break with goals from Bowen and Soucek and it could have been more. The second half at least did not see further damage as the home side took their foot off the gas. United at least had an effort on target as Ahmedhodzic’s header was parried at close range but in truth the Blades never looked like getting back in the game and the Hammers coasted to victory in the end.
United seemed to have no identifiable plan and were just picked off easily and then left exposed time after time by better movement, more skilled players and physically stronger athletes which saw chance after chance created.
The Blades made one chance with McBurnie back in for Norwood but Heckingbottom kept faith with the rest of the side from the debacle of less than a week ago. West Ham named a strong side as they looked to continue a good start to the season.
Inside 30 seconds West Ham won a corner and Ward Prowse whipped in the ball but MCBurnie and Egan headed into each other leading to a stoppage. Hamer gave the ball away cheaply in a trend that would become common much of the opening stages. United could not keep the football with the limited possession they had and West Ham attacked down the right side seeing an advantage with Soucek and Bowen being too strong for McAtee and Thomas. McAtee was easily shoved out of it by Bowen and his cross should have been converted by Soucek but blazed over. Antonio was too physical for Hamer as the mismatches were showing up all over the field. Antonio then did the same to Egan and the ball to Paqueta’s shot goalwards after Soucek flicked on by Foderingham made the save.
United did have a better few minutes with Bogle’s cross blocked after good work from McBurnie. Ball was played into Archer whose turn and shot was blocked well by a Hammers defender before Hamer’s shot deflected over. Souza won a tackle and celebrated the throw -a sign of how desperate United were but at least he was showing commitment.
McAtee gave the ball away too easily and Paqueta ran through but Bogle made the tackle to lead to the corner. Ward Prowse hit a beautiful inswinger met by Bowen and Foderingham had to make the full length save to deny him before Aguerd’s follow up was cleared off the line by Thomas.
Archer ran across the line but blazed over but the home side were now back in complete control and Souza’s poor give away was compounded when he brought down Bowen. Ward Prowse’s effort was held by Foderingham. United tried to put a move together and Ahmedhodzic was well forward but he could only flick on Bogle’s cross and Thomas sent over the ball from the other side but put too much on it.
The opening came on 23 minutes when there was no pressure on the ball and McAtee let Soucek go down the right and after one touch football, Thomas failed to go with BOWEN and when the ball was rolled across, it was an easy finish for the forward. There was a certain inevitability about the goal and there was no let up as Antonio nearly got in as Ahmedhodzic and Egan let the ball bounce. The ball was deflected away for a corner. When the ball came in, Thomas was maybe fortunate to get away with a handball as his arm was out but surprisingly nothing was given when VAR looked at it.
Antonio raced through and shot wide as the pressure continued. McAtee was getting frustrated and got a yellow card for bringing down Soucek. Archer was then shoved off it again and his lack of upper body strength was evident as the home side came away.
From this pinch of the ball, West Ham got up the field but Hamer had the ball but gave it away so cheaply and the ball was played into SOUCEK who swept the ball into the net and it was 2-0 and you sensed almost certainly game over.
The Blades did try and respond and McBurnie had a chance but he shinned his finish badly wide showing little composure after a rare foray into the West Ham box. This instance chance to come back was blown and the Hammers were back on the attack with Soucek getting the run-on Thomas and hitting a shot that Foderingham pushed away. Alvarez left his foot in on Souza and was rightly cautioned and just before half time Hamer had a header that drifted a long way wide. The half time whistle came and it was a comfortable game for West Ham who perhaps should have led by more than two goals.
The second half saw Bowen get in too easily down the right as Souza and Thomas just let him go but the ball was cleared. Bogle then tried to be too clever and was robbed and brough his man down. The ball came over but somehow squirmed wide. Souza had a hooked effort deflected wide but as the corner came in, the Blades picked up another injury. Egan went down holding his leg and looked in some pain after going up for a header. He could not carry on and limped off. Basham came on in his place.
McAtee played in Bogle and his cross led to a corner and from its Basham headed across and Ahmedhodzic tried to finish but was blocked at close range by Areola spreading himself. It was the first effort United had on the West Ham goal.
McBurnie gave it away after United tried to get up the field and Antonio was in. He slid in Bowen who rounded Foderingham and squared the ball but as Antonio looked to finish, Souza made the last-ditch block to probably deny a certain goal. The Hammers won two corners that saw West Ham win the headers but could not divert goalwards. Antonio chased down another ball that Ahmedhodzic had to put behind and Aguerd nearly headed in the third.
McAtee was not in the game and was taken off for Davies before better football saw Hamer get forward but his cross was blocked. West Ham made two changes with Benrahma and Kudus on for Alvarez and Antonio but the home side were not really being asked many questions and continued to look the more dangerous side even if they were not attacking with as many numbers.
McBurnie nodded a header wide and then a Hamer cross fell for Bogle but his shot was blocked with appeals for a handball from some United players. The ball quickly transferred to the other end and it was the home side appealing for hands – on Souza – but this was also waved away and VAR checks saw nothing untoward. Slimane, Brewster and Trusty came on for Hamer, Archer, and Bogle with just over 10 minutes to go and McBurnie had a shot blocked after Davies fell theatrically.
Benrahma had a shot saved from Foderingham before Slimane curled a decent effort wide for the visitors. Basham was shoved off it and West Ham broke but Paqueta pulled his shot wide after Benrahma broke at pace. West Ham nearly did make it three as Ward Prowse found Bowen who got beyond United far too easily again and his pull back was nearly finished and the ball bounced around before the defence finally cleared right in front of the keeper. The game entered six minutes stoppage time and Slimane had another effort but straight at Areola before West Ham finished with another attack that ended with the ball just going over. The final whistle came soon after and United were still winless, having lost 6 in 7 and matching the start of the last time out at this level for ineptitude.
United seemed to have no identifiable plan and were just picked off easily and then left exposed time after time by better movement, more skilled players and physically stronger athletes which saw chance after chance created.
The Blades made one chance with McBurnie back in for Norwood but Heckingbottom kept faith with the rest of the side from the debacle of less than a week ago. West Ham named a strong side as they looked to continue a good start to the season.
Inside 30 seconds West Ham won a corner and Ward Prowse whipped in the ball but MCBurnie and Egan headed into each other leading to a stoppage. Hamer gave the ball away cheaply in a trend that would become common much of the opening stages. United could not keep the football with the limited possession they had and West Ham attacked down the right side seeing an advantage with Soucek and Bowen being too strong for McAtee and Thomas. McAtee was easily shoved out of it by Bowen and his cross should have been converted by Soucek but blazed over. Antonio was too physical for Hamer as the mismatches were showing up all over the field. Antonio then did the same to Egan and the ball to Paqueta’s shot goalwards after Soucek flicked on by Foderingham made the save.
United did have a better few minutes with Bogle’s cross blocked after good work from McBurnie. Ball was played into Archer whose turn and shot was blocked well by a Hammers defender before Hamer’s shot deflected over. Souza won a tackle and celebrated the throw -a sign of how desperate United were but at least he was showing commitment.
McAtee gave the ball away too easily and Paqueta ran through but Bogle made the tackle to lead to the corner. Ward Prowse hit a beautiful inswinger met by Bowen and Foderingham had to make the full length save to deny him before Aguerd’s follow up was cleared off the line by Thomas.
Archer ran across the line but blazed over but the home side were now back in complete control and Souza’s poor give away was compounded when he brought down Bowen. Ward Prowse’s effort was held by Foderingham. United tried to put a move together and Ahmedhodzic was well forward but he could only flick on Bogle’s cross and Thomas sent over the ball from the other side but put too much on it.
The opening came on 23 minutes when there was no pressure on the ball and McAtee let Soucek go down the right and after one touch football, Thomas failed to go with BOWEN and when the ball was rolled across, it was an easy finish for the forward. There was a certain inevitability about the goal and there was no let up as Antonio nearly got in as Ahmedhodzic and Egan let the ball bounce. The ball was deflected away for a corner. When the ball came in, Thomas was maybe fortunate to get away with a handball as his arm was out but surprisingly nothing was given when VAR looked at it.
Antonio raced through and shot wide as the pressure continued. McAtee was getting frustrated and got a yellow card for bringing down Soucek. Archer was then shoved off it again and his lack of upper body strength was evident as the home side came away.
From this pinch of the ball, West Ham got up the field but Hamer had the ball but gave it away so cheaply and the ball was played into SOUCEK who swept the ball into the net and it was 2-0 and you sensed almost certainly game over.
The Blades did try and respond and McBurnie had a chance but he shinned his finish badly wide showing little composure after a rare foray into the West Ham box. This instance chance to come back was blown and the Hammers were back on the attack with Soucek getting the run-on Thomas and hitting a shot that Foderingham pushed away. Alvarez left his foot in on Souza and was rightly cautioned and just before half time Hamer had a header that drifted a long way wide. The half time whistle came and it was a comfortable game for West Ham who perhaps should have led by more than two goals.
The second half saw Bowen get in too easily down the right as Souza and Thomas just let him go but the ball was cleared. Bogle then tried to be too clever and was robbed and brough his man down. The ball came over but somehow squirmed wide. Souza had a hooked effort deflected wide but as the corner came in, the Blades picked up another injury. Egan went down holding his leg and looked in some pain after going up for a header. He could not carry on and limped off. Basham came on in his place.
McAtee played in Bogle and his cross led to a corner and from its Basham headed across and Ahmedhodzic tried to finish but was blocked at close range by Areola spreading himself. It was the first effort United had on the West Ham goal.
McBurnie gave it away after United tried to get up the field and Antonio was in. He slid in Bowen who rounded Foderingham and squared the ball but as Antonio looked to finish, Souza made the last-ditch block to probably deny a certain goal. The Hammers won two corners that saw West Ham win the headers but could not divert goalwards. Antonio chased down another ball that Ahmedhodzic had to put behind and Aguerd nearly headed in the third.
McAtee was not in the game and was taken off for Davies before better football saw Hamer get forward but his cross was blocked. West Ham made two changes with Benrahma and Kudus on for Alvarez and Antonio but the home side were not really being asked many questions and continued to look the more dangerous side even if they were not attacking with as many numbers.
McBurnie nodded a header wide and then a Hamer cross fell for Bogle but his shot was blocked with appeals for a handball from some United players. The ball quickly transferred to the other end and it was the home side appealing for hands – on Souza – but this was also waved away and VAR checks saw nothing untoward. Slimane, Brewster and Trusty came on for Hamer, Archer, and Bogle with just over 10 minutes to go and McBurnie had a shot blocked after Davies fell theatrically.
Benrahma had a shot saved from Foderingham before Slimane curled a decent effort wide for the visitors. Basham was shoved off it and West Ham broke but Paqueta pulled his shot wide after Benrahma broke at pace. West Ham nearly did make it three as Ward Prowse found Bowen who got beyond United far too easily again and his pull back was nearly finished and the ball bounced around before the defence finally cleared right in front of the keeper. The game entered six minutes stoppage time and Slimane had another effort but straight at Areola before West Ham finished with another attack that ended with the ball just going over. The final whistle came soon after and United were still winless, having lost 6 in 7 and matching the start of the last time out at this level for ineptitude.
