Obiang & Ayew secure dominant Hammers win over Huddersfield
WHUFC.com
Two goals in a prolific five-minute period was enough to secure West Ham United a first Premier League win of the season at home to Huddersfield Town. The 2-0 victory came as a result of a deflected Pedro Obiang effort in the 72nd minute while substitute Andre Ayew poked home on 77 minutes. It was no more than Slaven Bilic's side deserved after a dominant performance. The home team created a host of excellent opportunities earlier in the contest, with Chicharito striking the woodwork. Huddersfield also saw an effort hit the cross-bar but were unable to score, giving West Ham an excellent win and Bilic three points on his 49th birthday. The Hammers almost took the lead after just a minute of action as Andy Carroll's ball across the box narrowly avoided Cheikhou Kouyate's outstretched foot. Chicharito then hit the crossbar from eight yards following a brilliant ball into the area, while James Collins almost scrambled home from a free-kick. Aaron Cresswell saw a free-kick go narrowly over the bar and Michail Antonio also had an effort which was deflected away after a terrific team move. Huddersfield's only chance of the first half was well cleaned up by Collins just moments before the end of half whistle as the Terriers looked to race clear on the counter.
West Ham's dominance finally paid off in the second half as fortune came out of hiding. Obiang's effort from distance took a huge deflection, confusing Lossi in the Terriers goal and going in the net via the post. Just five minutes later and the Irons had a second. Cresswell's corner eluded the Huddersfield defence and Ayew, 12 minutes after coming on, tucked the ball away. Huddersfield's best chances came in the second half with Tom Ince seeing a decent effort clip the cross-bar after the Hammers had taken their two-goal advantage. But ultimately the home team hailed on for an impressive result against David Wagner's newly promoted men in front of the brilliant home support.
West Ham United: Hart; Zabaleta, Reid, Collins, Fonte, Cresswell; Obiang (Rice 90+3), Kouyate; Antonio, Carroll (Sakho 82'), Chicharito (Ayew 65')
Subs not used: Adrian, Byram, Ogbonna, Masuaku
Goals: Obiang 72', Ayew 77'
Yellow cards: Zabaleta 49',
Huddersfield Town: Lossi; Smith, Zanka, Schindler, Lowe (Malone 63'); Kachunga (Sabiri 76'), Billing (Depoitre 83'), Mooy, Ince; Van la Parras, Mounie
Subs not used: Coleman, Williams, Hadergjonaj, Hefele
Yellow Cards: Zanka 26', Billing 45'
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U23s outfoxed at Leicester's King Power Stadium
WHUFC.com
West Ham United suffered their first ever Premier League 2 Division 1 defeat on Monday night when they were beaten 3-1 by Leicester City. Kelechi Iheanacho, Vicente Iborra and George Thomas scored for the hosts, who fielded a strong outfit at the King Power Stadium. Toni Martinez grabbed his fourth of the season to reduce the deficit with 15 minutes remaining, but the Foxes stayed strong to record their second league win of the campaign. Leicester were the dominant side in the first half in terms of possession, though the Hammers caused their hosts problems on the break. But it was visiting stopper Rihards Matrevics who was called into action first, saving superbly down low to his left after City summer signing Iheanacho struck across the Latvian. Despite the periods keeping the ball, Steve Beaglehole's team did not trouble Matrevics again until they took the lead just a minute before half time. First, Toni Martinez slid wide from eight yards after Nathan Holland's excellent run and pass from the left, though the Spaniard was called offside, before the winger himself shot wide after cutting back onto his right foot. At the other end, Josh Pask threw himself in front of everything and denied Josh Eppiah as he blocked well on 30 minutes. Josh Gordon also went close for the Foxes but couldn't cleanly connect with Iheanacho's centre. With the storm seemingly weathered, Terry Westley's men conceded just 60 seconds before the 45 were up.
Former Manchester City man Iheanacho got into his stride and, approaching the edge of the box, was challenged expertly by Tunji Akinola. The ball somehow, however, found its way back to the Nigerian on the left-hand-side of the box, allowing the forward to slot past Matrevics from close range. And the second half began in the worst possible fashion for the Hammers. Almost straight away, Leicester won a corner and left-back Connor Wood's delivery was a good one. Iborra – another City summer signing – was on hand to glance home and double the hosts' lead. Minutes later it was three. Some sloppy West Ham defending allowed Eppiah plenty of space to cross from the left, and the attacker put it on a plate for Thomas to tap in a yard from the line. Domingos Quina threatened Eldin Jakupovic in the Leicester goal with a speculative effort on the hour-mark, but it was as close as the Hammers came to reducing City's lead before Iheanacho nearly added a spectacular fourth. The striker raced away down the left once again, and despite his best attempts ta add his second of the evening, West Ham sub Noha Sylvestre was on hand to smash off the line after and onrushing Matrevics had been chipped. There was some late joy for the visitors – who had endured a horrific journey up, getting stuck for a number of hours on the M1– as Toni Martinez scored his fourth of the campaign. The Spaniard chased down a short Benalouane back-pass before hitting the post, but sub Jahmal Hector-Ingram was on hand to set up the forward for another attempt, one he took this time with aplomb. The Hammers could not add a second to frighten Leicester however, and Westley's men's focus will now turn to their home fixture against Liverpool in a weeks' time.
Leicester City: Jakupovic, Knight (Pascanu 72), Wood, Choudhury, Benalouane, Huth, Thomas, Iborra, Iheanacho (Hughes 80), Eppiah, Gordon (Ndukwu 70)
Subs not used: Iverson, Martis
Goals: Iheanacho 44, Iborra 46, Thomas 48
West Ham United: Matrevics, Pike, Neufville (Sylvestre 14), Makasi, Pask, Akinola, Haksabanovic (Hector-Ingram 61), Quina, Martinez, Browne (Kemp 46), Holland
Subs not used: Powell, Scully
Goals: Martinez 75
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West Ham United 2-0 Huddersfield Town
By Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport
Pedro Obiang's heavily deflected goal was the moment of luck West Ham needed to set them on the way to their first points of the Premier League season as Huddersfield suffered their first defeat. The Hammers, whose manager Slaven Bilic was under pressure after three successive league defeats, were below par - although the visitors offered little threat. Javier Hernandez hit the bar in the first half, in one of West Ham's few clear-cut chances. The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute when Obiang's 25-yard strike hit Mathias Jorgensen's back and looped over keeper Jonas Lossl. It was the first goal that Huddersfield - or Lossl - have conceded in their first season in the top flight. And the second came five minutes later when substitute Andre Ayew - whose introduction for Hernandez was booed by West Ham's fans - turned the ball home from three yards out. Huddersfield's major opportunity came with 10 minutes left as Thomas Ince hit the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Bilic came into the game under plenty of pressure after the Hammers had conceded 10 goals in their opening three league games. And the Croat, celebrating his 49th birthday, has also had public disagreements with the club's owners over their failure to sign his key target William Carvalho, as well as Renato Sanches and Grzegorz Krychowiak. On their first game at home this season - with London Stadium not initially ready following the World Athletics Championships - the Hammers did not look great. Andy Carroll made his first appearance this season following a thigh injury, with Mexico striker Hernandez having to move out to the wing to make space for the target man. Hernandez was quiet - although Michail Antonio was excellent on the other flank. The Hammers' finishing was poor - with Cheikhou Kouyate, James Collins, Jose Fonte and Antonio all squandering chances. And it looked as if criticism of Bilic would grow when the replacement of Hernandez with Ayew was met with boos from the home crowd. But it was actually a match-winning substitution. Ayew set up Obiang's goal and then poked home after Fonte's shot from Aaron Cresswell's corner was blocked.
Huddersfield brought back down to earth
The Terriers had enjoyed an excellent start to their maiden Premier League season, their first in the top flight since 1971-72, winning two and drawing one.
Perhaps the international break came at a bad time because they put in their worst performance of the fledgling season. Against a team out of form, they did not play with the usual energy and dynamic attacking play they had shown so far under boss David Wagner. Despite having more of the ball and completing more passes, they only forced Joe Hart to make two saves, with both efforts from outside the box - via Philip Billing and Steve Mounie.
Match facts - Hart ends clean-sheet drought
It was Joe Hart's first league clean sheet in 23 games, a run going back to 8 January when he was at Torino
West Ham scored twice in this game, as many as in their previous four home league games combined.
Huddersfield are the last team in this season's Premier League to concede a goal, after 342 minutes of action.
The Hammers have now kept four clean sheets in their past five top-flight home games.
Andre Ayew has been directly involved in four goals in his past five Premier League games [a goal and assist v Huddersfield and a goal and assist v Burnley last May].
Andy Carroll won 13 aerial duels in the game, the most of any player in a Premier League game this season.
West Ham scored with two of their three shots on target in the game.
Huddersfield have won just two of their past seven away league games (D1 L4).
Man of the match - Michail Antonio
In a game short of brilliant individual performances, West Ham winger Michail Antonio (r) caused plenty of problems for the Huddersfield defence
What's next?
West Ham - who remain in the relegation zone on goal difference - visit West Brom on Saturday (15:00 BST). Huddersfield, who remain sixth, host Leicester City at the same time.
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West Ham Utd 2-0 Huddersfield Town
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 11th September 2017
By: Staff Writer
West Ham may be struggling away from home in the Premier League, but they maintained their 100 per cent record at the Olympic Stadium with a comfortable win against Huddersfield tonight. Second-half efforts from Pedro Obiang and Andre Ayew were enough to secure United's first points of the new campaign against a previously-unbeaten Terriers tonight.
Slaven Bilic, whose dismissal was rumoured to be close should West Ham have lost tonight, will now be able to celebrate his 49th birthday after making the vital changes that preceded both of tonight's goals. With the game teetering towards a goalless draw, the ineffective Javier Hernandez was replaced by Andre Ayew midway through the second half to the bemusement of sections of the crowd.
However they were celebrating just seven minutes later when Ayew's short pass was fired speculatively towards goal by Obiang, before taking a wicked deflection via a defender's back and looping into Lossl's goal. Five minutes later Ayew was celebrating a goal of his own, as he stabbed home a corner from close range to put the Hammers in an unassailable position - fully justifying Bilic's controversial decision to pull the Mexican international.
West Ham Utd: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Collins, Fonte, Cresswell, Obiang (Rice 90+3), Kouyate, Antonio, Carroll (Sakho 82), Hernandez (Ayew 65).
Subs not used: Adrian, Byram, Masuaku, Ogbonna.
Goals: Obiang (72), Ayew (77).
Booked: Zabaleta (49).
Huddersfield Town: Lossi, Smith, Zanka, Schindler, Lowe (Malone 63), Kachunga (Sabiri 76), Billing (Depoitre 83), Mooy, Ince, Van la Parras, Mounie.
Subs not used: Coleman, Williams, Hadergjonaj, Hefele.
Booked: Zanka (26), Billing (45).
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Attendance: tbc
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West Ham 2-0 Huddersfield: Lucky deflection helps West Ham to win over Huddersfield
By Andrew Dickson
Last Updated: 11/09/17 10:20pm
SSN
West Ham eased the pressure on manager Slaven Bilic with their first Premier League win of the season as they beat Huddersfield 2-0. A double deflection saw Pedro Obiang's shot creep in off the post 18 minutes from the end before Andre Ayew made sure of the victory soon after. For a long time it seemed as though West Ham's dominance would not be enough as they spurned a number of good opportunities. Their perseverance paid off, however, as their first points of the campaign lifted them two places to 18th and condemned Huddersfield to their first defeat. West Ham should have gone ahead little more than a minute in when Andy Carroll crossed low across the face of goal but Cheikhou Kouyate was fractionally late as he tried to slide in. Javier Hernandez went closer moments later as the hosts made the brighter start but after Michail Antonio's cross, the Mexican saw his shot come off the face of the crossbar via Tommy Smith.
Player ratings
West Ham: Hart (6), Reid (6), Cresswell (6), Fonte (6), Zabaleta (7), Collins (6), Kouyate (6), Carroll (7), Obiang (6), Hernandez (7), Antonio (8).
Subs: Ayew (6), Sakho (3), Rice (2).
Huddersfield: Lossl (6), Smith (6), Billing (6), Kachunga (6), Mooy (7), Lowe (6), Van La Parra (5), Ince (6), Mounie (6), Zanka (5), Schindler (6).
Subs: Malone (4), Sabiri (3), Depoitre (2).
Man of the match: Michail Antonio.
Huddersfield took time to settle and although they started seeing more of the ball, it was West Ham who had the better chances and James Collins' header was smothered by Jonas Lossl. For all the danger they posed coming forward, West Ham lacked an edge and Antonio's 20-yard drive deflected over rather than in before Kouyate missed the target when he should have scored. Aaron Cresswell's free-kick over the upright before the break was poor, with Hernandez's after just as wasteful as frustration began to creep in. Huddersfield's openings were rare but Philip Billing tested Joe Hart with a ferocious low drive which needed the England goalkeeper to react quickly to keep it out. Just as they seemed to be stretching West Ham, they almost shot themselves in the foot as Zanka sliced an attempted clearance just wide of his own goal. Yet it said much about this game that the home side could not make them pay from the corner and when they finally took the lead 18 minutes from the end, it was with a huge slice of luck. Obiang was credited with the goal but the fact his shot came off Christopher Schindler's foot then Zanka's back before wrong-footing Lossl and going in off the post meant it would be bold of him to claim it. Buoyed by that, West Ham doubled their advantage six minutes later when Jose Fonte's header wasn't cleared and substitute Ayew poked in the rebound. Tom Ince hit the bar in the closing stages but West Ham saw out a scrappy victory - not that Bilic will be caring how it was achieved.
What's next?
After a month away from the London Stadium, West Ham are back on the road again as they visit West Brom on Saturday. Huddersfield are at home, however, as they face 2015/16 champions Leicester at the John Smith's Stadium.
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Andy Carroll's armed robbery ordeal mocked by former West Ham star Martin Allen - on stadium tannoy
It was claimed that Carroll "feared for his life" during the ordeal, which has since seen the thief found guilty of the offence
The Mirror
BYAARON FLANAGAN
21:57, 11 SEP 2017UPDATED22:20, 11 SEP 2017
Andy Carroll's armed robbery was mocked by former West Ham player Martin Allen - on the London Stadium tannoy. Carroll was targeted by thieves who wanted his £22,000 watch and followed the former England striker out of the Hammers' training ground in November 2016. The thief has since been found guilty of the attempted robbery, in which Carroll was said to have "feared for his life" in the ordeal. Allen, who played for the Hammers between 1989 and 1995, was a special guest at West Ham's game against Huddersfield on Monday night. But he made an ill-advised comment when asked about Carroll's return to the starting XI during a half-time interview. "At least he turned up on time without his watch," Allen said. The comment was greeted with awkwardness around the stadium. In a victim impact statement Carroll, who believed the defendant had a gun, said he "feared for his life" and now travels to and from training with security guards. The court heard that two motorbikes chased the 6ft 4in striker's camouflage green Jeep as he drove on the wrong side of the road to get away, and he eventually got back to West Ham's training ground where there were security staff.
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West Ham 2-0 Huddersfield: Obiang and Ayew strike to give birthday boy Slaven Bilic much-needed win
The Hammers won their first points of the season thanks to two late strikes at the London Stadium
The Mirror
BYDARREN LEWIS
22:06, 11 SEP 2017
Relief for Slaven Bilic , euphoria for the fans but sadly for the storm chasers - nothing to see here. The Crystal Palace hierarchy may have bottled it hours earlier, chucking Frank de Boer overboard 24 hours after calling for unity. But West Ham walked it like they talked it, responding to the Bilic rallying cry in the programme to hammer Huddersfield. The Irons boss himself will surely celebrate his 49th birthday with a large one after a win to prove rumours of his London Stadium demise have been greatly exaggerated. The purists will debate, with some justification, the manner of an victory - prompted by an aerial bombardment of the Huddersfield box. There were no less than 31 aerial duels in the first-half, the most in the first half of a Premier League game this season. Pedro Obiang's opener, 18 minutes from time, will not get anywhere near the Goal of the Month shortlist. Nor will substitute Andre Ayew's effort for 2-0, scuffed in from close range five minutes later. Until they start handing our extra points for artistic impression, however, neither Bilic nor his board will care one bit. As for the West Ham board, they'd noted the bullishness from Bilic last Friday as the Croat addressed the speculation surrounding his future in his pre-match press conference. Whatever the relationship between the two parties, however, these three points will keep the wolf from the door. Not only that. This is a West Ham side that are actually playing for the manager. Twelve first-half efforts from the home side compared to just one for the visitors told their own story. Bilic's five changes from the side whipped 3-0 at Newcastle included a return for Andy Carroll who was making his first appearance of the season after a thigh injury. Huddersfield were unchanged from their goalless draw with Southampton. They soon found that a fit, firing and motivated Hammers side - playing in their first game this season at home - are a completely different kettle of fish. A minute and 18 seconds in, Carroll sent a ball across the six-yard box that the otherwise-excellent Michail Antonio failed only by inches to tuck away Javier Hernandez hit the crossbar 12 minutes later after Antonio had left full-back Chris Lowe for dead and sent a superb cross. Pablo Zabaleta answered suggestions that his legs have gone by keeping the supply line going. Obiang should have scored in the first half but scuffed his effort wide. Very soon it was clear that Huddersfield's dream start to life in the big league was not going to continue here. West Ham had taken this game by the throat and were in no mood to let go.
So the goals, when they came, were well deserved. First Obiang's shot deflected in off the back of defender Martin 'Zanka' Jorgensen. Then Ayew - whose introduction for Hernandez was initially booed by the home fans - let his football do the talking. The former slid the loose ball home after Jose Fonte's shot from Aaron Cresswell's corner had been blocked. The party here in east London was already well underway.
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And finally one to make you all laugh at the bin dippers...
Liverpool fans rage as West Ham's Winston Reid escapes card for high boot - on same weekend Sadio Mane is sent off
Mane was shown red for his challenge on Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and fans have called for consistency
The Mirror
BYAARON FLANAGAN
21:15, 11 SEP 2017UPDATED22:05, 11 SEP 2017
Liverpool fans were left furious after Winston Reid escaped punishment for a high boot during West Ham's game against Huddersfield on Monday night. Reid's raised his foot well above his own head height while challenging for the ball and made contact with Steve Mounie's face during the first-half of the game. The incident came just two days after Sadio Mane was given his marching orders for a high challenge on Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson. Mane caused Ederson facial injuries due to the studs up nature of his offence, while Reid made contact with Mounie with the top of his foot. But Liverpool fans were left raging as not even a caution was given for Reid's challenge. Gary Neville, who was adamant that Mane should not have been sent off during Sky Sports' coverage of the match and got plenty of grief on social media for it, tweeted a screenshot of the incident with a load of red emojis and laughing faces. Twitter user Alex Smith jokingly responded: "Red card? For sniffing his foot. It's weird I grant you, but it's not a red card offence is it?" But Neville didn't see the funny side: "Oh mate. Get the rule out. It leaves the ref nowhere to go. Endangered a player with Excessive force!"
On Sunday, Newcastle midfielder Matt Ritchie admitted he was lucky to escape a red card for his own style challenge on Swansea's Alfie Mawson. Ritchie raised his boot and made contact with Mawson's head, but only received a yellow card by referee Mike Jones. Twitter users have called for consistency from the officials following the incident.
Follow
Matthew Clarke @MattyClarke14
😂 Reid just kicked Mounie in the face and doesn't even get a booking. Refs are so inconsistent.
8:44 PM - Sep 11, 2017
Jack B @jackyb196
So Mounie gets kicked in the head by Reid and it's not even a yellow? 😂😂😂 have some consistency pls @FA
8:44 PM - Sep 11, 2017
joe @Mcevoy7777
Reid kicks Mounie in the face... no card at all! Absolute joke.
8:44 PM - Sep 11, 2017
Jayant Singh @JaySinghLFC
Reid kicks Mounie on the face,no card.
8:44 PM - Sep 11, 2017
Samuel Hook @Samuel_Hook
Reid boots Mounie in face, Mane got sent off, Richtie for a yellow, Reid gets a slap on the wrist, consistency at its finest #htafc
8:45 PM - Sep 11, 2017
Liam Thomas @LiamNufc07
Winston Reid just kicked mounie in the face. No booking, strange
8:47 PM - Sep 11, 2017
Craig Grieve @grievesy101
Reid accidentally kicks Mounie in head when going for ball no booking this time! @FA 3 days 3 high boots to head 3 diff decisions #BPL #Joke
8:55 PM - Sep 11, 2017
Replies 1 1 Retweet likes
Burak Sezgin @Burakiosaurus
Saido Mané on seeing Winston Reid not even receive a Yellow card for kicking Mounie in the face #consistency #WHUHUD
8:48 PM - Sep 11, 2017
1 1 Reply 2 2 Retweets 3 3 likes
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