Daily WHUFC News -

West Ham United 1-4 Swansea City
WHUFC.com

West Ham suffered their first defeat in the Premier League at the Boleyn
Ground since August as Swansea came away with a 4-1 victory.

Goals from Wayne Routledge, Andre Ayew, Ki Sung-Yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis
made it a disappointing afternoon in the final ever Saturday game at the
Boleyn.

The Hammers have enjoyed an impressive unbeaten home record in the top
flight this season but that finally came to end as Swansea became the first
side since Bournemouth back in August to come away with all three points.

Substitute Diafra Sakho pulled back a consolation goal for West Ham in the
second half but it came too late to salvage anything from the game.

With the last ever home game at the Boleyn Ground against Manchester United
on Tuesday night and the final fixture of the season against Stoke next
Sunday, Slaven Bilic will still be hoping his side can get the victories
they need to secure a European spot for next season.

The Hammers started the game strongly and dominated the opening 20 minutes.

They could have opened the scoring after just two minutes when Dimitri Payet
weaved his way to the edge of the box and curled a low shot which was well
saved by Lukasz Fabianski diving low to his left.

From the resulting corner Winston Reid rose the highest inside the box and
saw his downward header produce another fine save from the Swansea keeper.

The home side came close again on ten minutes when Andy Carroll cut the ball
back for Mark Noble who was unmarked on the edge of the box but fired his
shot over the bar.

After winning five awards at the end of the season ceremony this week, Payet
was full of confidence going into the game and would have fancied his
chances when the Hammers were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box.

But the Frenchman curled the set-piece inches over the bar.

The Hammers were made to pay for those missed opportunities as Swansea
opened the scoring on 25 minutes.

Ki Sung-Yeung played the ball out to Kyle Naughton who crossed in first time
for the unmarked Routledge who made no mistake striking the ball into the
back of the net.

The Hammers could have drawn level straight away when Fabianski failed to
deal with a corner on 29 minutes and the ball fell to Victor Ogbonna who had
the goal at his mercy but he fired his shot over the bar.

But it was Swansea who doubled their lead on the half hour mark. Stephen
Kingsley burst clear down the left hand side and played the perfect cross in
for Ayew who was free inside the box and struck the ball home from
close-range.

It could have been a different story if the Hammers had managed to pull a
goal back right on the stroke of half-time.

Michail Antonio whipped the cross in which Carroll did well to divert the
ball back across goal and Manuel Lanzini saw his shot go just over the bar.

Swansea made it three on 51 minutes when Modou Barrow crossed the ball in
from the right hand side and Sung-Yueng produced a great piece of skill to
volley the ball past Randolph into the corner of the net.

West Ham refused to lie down and could have pulled one back on 53 minutes
when Antonio saw his close-range shot produce a great reflex save from
Fabianski. The ball fell to Carroll and he fired his shot inches past the
post.

The Hammers finally found a breakthrough on 68 minutes when Payet's cross
picked out Sakho who saw his first shot well saved by Fabianski, but he made
no mistake with his second attempt as he diverted the ball into the corner
of the net.

But it was only a consolation as Swansea wrapped up a comfortable victory
with their fourth of the game in injury time after Gomis played a neat
interchange with Ayew and struck the ball into the back of the net.

The Hammers will be hoping for a much better outcome when they play the
final ever game at the Boleyn Ground against Manchester United on Tuesday
night.

West Ham: Randolph, Antonio, Cresswell, Reid, Ogbonna, Noble, Kouyate
(Emenike 76), Moses (Sakho 59), Lanzini (Valencia 83), Payet, Carroll

Subs not used: Spiegel, Tomkins, Obiang, Collins

Bookings: Sakho, Reid

Swansea: Fabianski, Naughton, Kingsley, Fernandez, Amat, Ki, Fer, Cork,
Routledge (Gomis 81), Barrow (Rangel 69), Ayew

Subs not used: Nordfeldt, Emnes, Britton, Gorre, Fulto

Bookings:

Referee: Michael Oliver

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Skipper laments missed chances
WHUFC.com

Captain Mark Noble was magnanimous in defeat as West Ham United were humbled
4-1 by Swansea City in the penultimate Barclays Premier League match at the
Boleyn Ground. The Hammers' UEFA Champions League challenge may have
disappeared down the sinkhole that opened up on the Barking Road hours
before kick-off, as a combination of missed chances and clinical finishing
from the visitors submerged the Hammers. After a bright opening, Swansea
struck twice before the break through Wayne Routledge and Andre Ayew. West
Ham fell further behind when Ki netted superbly just after the interval,
before a switch to 3-5-2 and an own-goal from Swans left-back Stephen
Kingsley gave the hosts hope. However, a late counter-attack saw Bafetimbi
Gomis net a fourth to send the Swans back to South Wales with plenty of air
under their wings. Noble admitted the home side had been second best, but
was quick to put things in perspective, pointing to the fact his team had
unleashed 25 shots on goal and won 13 corners to Swansea's 13 and three
respectively. "They took their chances and we didn't – it's as simple as
that," he correctly observed. "We started really well, moved it well, had
three or four corners and some good chances, but couldn't hit the back of
the net and got caught on the counter. "I'm not going to dwell on it because
we've been fantastic this year. We've had two or three games this whole
season like that. We're still fighting and we're still in a fantastic
position, so let's not forget where we've come from. We've improved
massively this year. "I'm not going to stand here and say we were rubbish,
we were this, we were that. We just didn't finish our chances, we weren't at
the races and sometimes that can happen to any team, and we've seen it
happen to all teams. "It hasn't happened to us a lot this year, which is why
it's strange, but we deserved to lose."

West Ham did indeed create chance after chance, but it was Swansea who took
their opportunities, scoring four goals from six shots on target.
"That's sometimes how it goes," Noble continued. "We've done it ourselves
where we haven't really been in games and we've scored goals. "Look, there
are going to be people out there who want to put the boys down and use
social media to vent their frustration, but at the end of the day the way
we've played this year from where we've come from has been fantastic. Let's
not get too disappointed because we've got two big games to go and we
obviously need to do better there. "All I'd say is that we know it's a bad
result. I've played in every game this year and we've done fantastic and we
need to get back to winning ways on Tuesday."

Noble wants everyone in Claret and Blue to put Saturday's defeat behind them
quickly before refocusing attention on Tuesday's Final Game with Manchester
United. The No16 knows the Hammers will need to take their chances to end
life at the Boleyn Ground on a high – and is confident Slaven Bilic's side
can do just that. We're itching to get back out there and put things right,
of course we are," he concluded. "It's the last game ever at this place and
it's going to be special. "I'd say we need to play better, but we just need
to finish our chances, because we didn't and they finished their chances
fantastically and that's why we got stung. It was quite similar to the
Bournemouth game ten months ago when we couldn't finish and they finished
four of their chances. "It's frustrating but we still need to keep our heads
up and look forward to Tuesday."

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Bilic - We have to bounce back
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic admits he was shocked by the 4-1 defeat against Swansea but
hopes his side can show the spirit and character to bounce straight back
against Manchester United on Tuesday.

The Hammers suffered their first home defeat in the Premier League since
August and it was a disappointing afternoon in the final ever Saturday game
at the Boleyn Ground.

Bilic knew his side's defensive display was not good enough and hopes the
players will have learned from their mistakes.

Bilic said: "It was a very bad result for us and it shocked us. We didn't
expect it. At the beginning it looked really good and it was one of our best
starts.

"The only thing that was missing was our finishing product. That made us
complacent because they didn't look dangerous.

"But we made a couple of mistakes and to be fair we were thinking that our
colleague behind me will take the ball and let me be in a good position. But
if you let their players have a one on one they are very capable of hurting
you and we didn't help our defenders at all.

"We then conceded a goal and then when you concede a second it is very hard
to come back. We have done it a few times but we needed to pull the goal
back. To be fair we didn't deserve it.

"With the ball we showed the character and determination but our finishing
product was not there today. Without the ball it was simply not good enough
in the Premier League."

Bilic is hoping his players can bounce straight back against Manchester
United and make it a night to remember in the final ever game to be played
at the Boleyn Ground.

Bilic added: "We have to bounce back. We have two games left and want to
finish high. Whatever happens we have had a good season.

"But our aim is to show a good spirit and character that has been with us
all season and we hope to show that against Manchester United.

"It will be an emotional night and is a big game when you always play
United, but the fact that it is the final ever game makes it even more
special and we have to stay cool and stay focused because we want to win the
game.

"We have been thinking about a European place since we knew it was reachable
and we can still do it. When we give our best we still have a lot to offer."

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Youngster Lewis signs new deal
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that highly rated Academy prospect
Alfie Lewis has signed a new long term contract with the Club.

The 16-year-old England youth international has already been at West Ham for
nearly a decade, and he marked the impressive milestone by committing his
future to the Hammers.

The youngster has enjoyed a breakthrough season, first impressing at U18
level before making his Development Squad bow in a 1-1 draw away at
Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After putting pen to paper on a full-time scholarship, Lewis beamed: "I'm
delighted. I've been here a long time at the Club, so I'm delighted to have
turned professional. A lot of hard work has gone into this. Hard work pays
off in the end, so it is a big honour.

"It's a huge day for me and my family, as they've been supporting me
throughout, right from when I joined West Ham ten years ago."

Despite his inexperience at U21 level, the teenager refused to be cowed as
he pulled the strings in the heart of midfield and snapped into tackles.

His outstanding performance was rewarded with a second U21 start the next
fixture, responding with another accomplished showing in a 1-1 draw with
Blackburn Rovers at Rush Green.

Lewis clearly relished those opportunities, adding: "This is definitely one
of the best moments of my career so far. Making my U21 debut earlier this
season was a big moment but this trumps it.

"I'm really enjoying my football at the moment. Rush Green is a great
environment; everyone gets along and supports each other.

"All the coaches have backed me and supported me, especially this year. I've
pushed on because of that.

"Making my U21 debut was a big achievement, an important milestone and I
hope I get more opportunities soon."

Despite his tender years, Lewis speaks with an assured confidence that
demonstrates his latent self-belief.

For those who have not yet seen Lewis in action, who better to describe his
style of play, than the man himself?

"I'm a player that likes to get the ball; I like to get it down and make
things happen. I like watching players like Dimitri Payet, Mesut Ozil and
Luka Modric."

Now, having committed his future at such an exciting time for everyone
connected to West Ham, Lewis is already targeting his first-team debut at
the Hammers' fantastic new home on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

He concluded: "The new Stadium is going to be fantastic and it would be a
great place to make my first-team debut. Fingers crossed, if I continue to
work hard, it'll happen one day!"

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Mahindra 90% done, Huge Target on the radar, RB experience a priority
May 6, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Boleyn Informer

As a fantastic season for West Ham draws to a close, all eyes will on the
transfer market and what signings the Hammers will make in the run up to our
move what is sure to be called the Mahindra Stadium. The stadium naming
rights deal with Mahindra is 90% deal I understand and it appears unlikely
anyone 'will do a Spurs' with a last minute gazump to spoil the deal.
I understand there is a extensive search for an experienced right back
despite Sam Byram making a decent start since joining the Hammers. The
manager and board believe Byram needs time and competition in that position
together with the fact that Antonio and Tomkins are not seen as long term
options despite filling in well despite the loss of Carl Jenkinson earlier
this season.
We all know the main priority is a twenty goal plus striker which has been
quoted publicly but there has been some artistic license with claims that
West Ham have bid forty million Euros for one European striker.
West Ham have a decent list of potential striker targets and not just the
two mentioned in the media time and time again. Both Alexandre Lacazette and
Michy Batshuayi are in that list but they are also in the target list of
half of the top European teams so we have to be realistic on our chances of
landing either one and have multiple back up plans. David Sullivan is not a
person to over pay for a player and the club won't be bullied into paying
over the odds for an in demand player.
I know this is a tease but there is one player's name on the list you
wouldn't believe and even if I did you would say we have no chance in
getting him but that is the level of ambition of the club. We now aim for
the very top.Quite rightly the board and the manager are not keen to reveal
transfer targets not already in the public domain so some of the names will
need to remain secret and in your imagination for now ;-)
As Ex has said there is no room at the Inn for Joey Obrien, Alex Song and
Emmanuel Emenike in next season's first season squad and the board will
listen to offers for Enner Valencia if someone is prepared to meet their
valuation.
While it is true that the new TV deal brings fantastic new riches to West
Ham, you also need to remember, the other nineteen teams will also share the
same riches and in reality the extra money will quite likley be spent in
increased transfer fees, increased player wages and probably increased agent
fees.
Despite our move to the Mahindra stadium, financial revenue will only
increase by between £10m-£20m mainly due to the reduced ticket pricing model
to ensure the stadium is full in the first season.While this income will be
welcome it won't allow us to financially compete with the likes of Spurs,
Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea. Manchester City or Manchester United. Financial
Fair Play is still relevant too with our £60m wage cap increasing to £64m
next season so that will remain a limiting factor.
Enjoy the last two games at the Boleyn Game on Saturday and Tuesday and as
Big Chris (Vinny Jones) would say in Lock,Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
'It's been emotional'
BI

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