Daily WHUFC News - 15th December 2016

Noble helps Hammers record a crucial victory
WHUFC.com

Noble Mark Noble inspired West Ham to a crucial 1-0 win over Burnley at
London Stadium to help them move clear of the bottom three and get their
season back on track.

After going six matches without a win in the Premier League, Slaven Bilic
knew the importance of getting all three points and his players showed
character, determination and the quality to get back on the winning trail.

The Hammers got their just rewards after dominating the first half and
hitting the woodwork twice.

And it was their inspirational captain who helped them secure the victory
with the crucial goal just before half-time.

Winston Reid was brought down inside the area and although Noble missed his
penalty, he was on hand to fire the rebound into the back of the net.

Despite a nervy second half, the Hammers players produced a superb defensive
display to keep a vital clean sheet and give them the perfect confidence
boost ahead of another big home game against Hull on Saturday.

It was also the perfect way to mark tribute to former FA Cup hero Peter
Brabrook who passed away this week and would have been proud of the minute's
applause shown towards him by the Hammers fans just before the game.

Bilic had called for his players to show the right mentality and said this
was the time that his side had to deliver and they did not let him down.

The Hammers dominated the first half proceedings and could have opened the
scoring after just two minutes when Michail Antonio's cross picked out Andy
Carroll and his header flew just wide of the post.

Dimitri Payet also came close on six minutes when he found space just
outside the box and fired the home side's first shot on target which
produced a comfortable save from Tom Heaton.

The London Stadium also paid respect to young Hammer Jack Howard who
tragically passed away last week on 13 minutes with a standing ovation which
seemed to inspire the home fans.

West Ham continued to dominate and had strong claims for a penalty turned
down on 27 minutes after Winston Reid's header appeared to strike the hand
of Burnley defender Michael Keane.

But referee Bobby Madley ignored the strong pleas from the home supporters
and waved for play to continue.

It was all one-way traffic as the home side continued to mount pressure on
the Burnley goal.

Payet laid the ball into the path of Pedro Obiang on 35 minutes who saw his
left-foot shot strike the outside of the post.

The Hammers were denied by the woodwork once again on the stroke of
half-time after Payet's short corner picked out Noble and he saw his curling
right-foot shot cannon back off the post.

But the home side finally got their just rewards moments later when they
broke the deadlock after Reid was brought down inside the area by Ben Mee.

Noble, who is normally so reliable from the penalty spot saw his effort
saved by Heaton diving low to his left, but he made no mistake firing the
rebound into the back of the net.

You could sense the relief among the Hammers players and Noble in particular
who knew the importance of his match winning strike.

Bilic must have feared a response from Burnley in the second half and that
proved to be the case as they had several opportunities to grab an
equaliser, but they could not find a way past the Hammers defence and the
superb Darren Randolph in the West Ham goal.

Burnley's first attempt on goal came on 51 minutes when a deep free-kick
into the ball fell to Vokes who struck an over-head kick and his effort flew
just wide of the post.

Arfield then saw his cross palmed away by Randolph on the hour mark straight
into the path of Vokes who had the goal at his mercy but he headed the ball
over the bar.

Randolph showed his quality once again on 71 minutes when he made a superb
save diving away to his left to keep out a fierce free-kick from Arfield.

Ayew could have sealed the victory in injury time when he weaved his way
into the penalty area and fired his shot inches past the post, but the
Hammers held on for a crucial victory and will be hoping for more of the
same when they face Hull on Saturday.


West Ham: Randolph; Nordtveit, Reid, Ogbonna; Antonio, Noble (Nordtveit 88),
Obiang, Cresswell; Lanzini (Ayew 69), Carroll (Fletcher 82), Payet

Subs not used: Adrian, Fernandes, Quina, Browne

Bookings:

Burnley: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Arfield, Marney, Defour, Boyd
(Barnes 76); Hendrick, Vokes

Subs not used: Robinson, Flanagan, Kightly, Bamford, Defour, Tarkowski

Bookings: Mee, Hendrick

Referee: Bobby Madley

Attendance: 56,990

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 1-0 Burnley
By Saj Chowdhury
BBC Sport

Mark Noble's first-half strike earned West Ham their first Premier League
win in seven games as they beat Burnley at London Stadium. It looked like
the Hammers would go into the break without anything to show for their
dominance, but in stoppage time they won a spot-kick when Ben Mee brought
down Winston Reid.
Up stepped Noble. His initial kick was saved low by Tom Heaton but he kept
his composure to tuck in the rebound. Noble and Pedro Obiang both struck the
woodwork with brilliant shots and Burnley's Matt Lowton produced a
goal-saving block to deny Aaron Cresswell. The Clarets improved markedly
after the break. Keeper Darren Randolph made a great one-handed save to keep
out Scott Arfield's free-kick and Sam Vokes headed over with the goal
gaping.
Victory lifted the Hammers four points clear of the relegation zone and up
to 15th in the table.
Throw the ball into the box and Andy Carroll will get his head to it. It is
a simple tactic that has worked in the past and will continue to pay
dividends for West Ham if they can keep their 6ft 4in bulldozer fit. The
27-year-old Geordie striker made his first start since August after
recovering from a knee injury, and bullied the Clarets defence during the 83
minutes he played. He only managed one header on target, and should have
done better with another after just two minutes. However, his big strength
is the ability to pull two defenders away, allowing his team-mates more
space.

The Hammers have missed their target man immensely - can they keep him fit
for the rest of the season?

Had the Clarets played the first half with the same conviction they showed
in the second then there might have been a different outcome. Manager Sean
Dyche's side were a different proposition after the break. Cresswell cleared
from the goal-line with Vokes ready to stab in, before the striker
inexplicably headed over from six yards with an open goal in front of him.
And 17 minutes before full-time, Randolph pulled off a great save to prevent
Arfield's low free-kick from creeping in.
It was an improvement, but again not good enough Burnley are five points
clear of the relegation zone, but that is now only one point from a possible
20 away from home this season. They need to start picking up on their
travels or they will face another scrap for survival.

Man of the match - Andy Carroll

An immense presence in attack for the Hammers - he took part in 17 aerial
duels and won more than 60% of them, and he also had six efforts on goal

What's next?

Burnley have another away trip to London - this time at Tottenham on Sunday
(16:00 GMT) and West Ham are at home to Hull on Saturday (15:00)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM 1-0 BURNLEY - MATCH REPORT
BY BRIAN KNOX ON 14 DECEMBER 2016 AT 10:33PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

By @WestHamAmerican

West Ham defeated Burnley FC this evening 1-0 in a mid-week Premier League
fixture at the London Stadium. Safe to say that no true West Ham supporter
would have predicted that the first Christmas season at the new grounds
would feature a home club only a single point from the bottom three of the
table. The visiting Clarets came into the day in a slightly safer
position; a full three points ahead of West Ham.

As Slaven Bilic has been forced to manage a number of prominent injuries
during the early months of the season, he came to this day with a decent
selection of attacking options, as Andy Carroll returned to the starting
lineup. Both teams came with some momentum behind them, as West Ham took a
single point away from Anfield on Sunday and Burnley earned a 3-2 victory
over Bournemouth.

Sean Dyche's side opened the match showing stout defending. While the
Hammers controlled possession, Burnley managed to keep Tom Heaton protected.
West Ham had two strikes hit the post during the opening 45, but neither
team found a first half goal.

The most remarkable part of the opening half was the number of times (five)
Bobby Madley stopped play for head injuries, and the downed player
miraculously would return to action immediately.

During the two minutes of added time to the first half, a corner kick fell
to Winston Reid who was taken to the turf by Ben Mee. With the penalty kick
called, Mark Noble marched to the spot and his kick was first blocked by
Heaton but Noble was able to score off the rebound. West Ham walked off the
pitch with a 1-0 lead.

During the second half, Burnley showed some danger on a couple of free kicks
from just beyond the penalty area. In the 55th Sam Vokes barely hooked one
wide. In the 61st somehow Vokes managed to head over the crossbar on an
open opportunity. In the 72nd Darren Randolph had to dive into a crowd to
swat away Scott Arfield's free kick.

West Ham did have moments. In the 60th Andy Carroll took a Payet corner
kick straight into the arms of Heaton. Moments later Lanzini had his
long-range shot also find its way to Heaton's arms.

Late in the match Dyche brought on more attacking options and the home club
found themselves trying to hang on for a 1-0 victory. The London Stadium
patrons groaned when the five minutes of added time was announced but
through a combination of possession and a little luck (and some great
efforts by Darren Randolph) West Ham were able to walk away with all three
points.

A busy week concludes on Saturday when the Hammers host fellow struggling
side, Hull City. After a brutal run of top competition, a few matches
against the bottom of the table are welcome as Slaven Bilic looks to pull
his team away from the danger of relegation zone. 40 points is usually
thought of as the safety point at season's end. A victory against Hull will
go a long way to easing the concern of the supporters.

With a lot of football to be played between now and May, a healing West Ham
side can still be a dangerous team as we go into 2017. Club goals such as a
run in the Euro's, a top five finish, and even a League Cup are all gone,
but a confident club going into the new year will, no doubt, improve the
feeling in East London. Stay tuned to the West Ham Way as Ex and staff
have all the latest news and information on the January transfer window.

West Ham: Randolph, Reid, Cresswell, Kouyate, Carroll, Lanzini, Obiang,
Noble, Ogbonna, Payet, Antonio
Subs: Adrian, Nordtveit (89'), Ayew (69'), Fletcher (83'), Fernandes,
Quina, Browne

Burnley: Heaton, Ward, Mee, Keane, Lowton, Arfield, Marney, Hendrick, Boyd,
Vokes, Gray.
Subs: Robinson, Flanagan, Barnes (76'), Kightly, Bamford (94'), Defour,
Tarkowskij

Bookings: Mee (62'), Henrick (72')

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1-0 Burnley: Mark Noble goal enough for Hammers
By Pete Hall at London Stadium
Last Updated: 14/12/16 10:32pm
SSN

Mark Noble's first-half strike was enough for West Ham to secure a vital 1-0
victory over Burnley at the London Stadium on Wednesday night. After
impressing in the weekend draw at Liverpool, the pressure was on the
Hammers' players to beat a Burnley side who don't travel well, making for a
tense night in the East End. Noble settled some of those nerves when he
scored from the rebound, after his own penalty had been saved, in first-half
stoppage time. The second half saw the visitors press for an equaliser,
adding to the anxious feeling around the stadium, with Sam Vokes guilty of
missing Burnley's best opening from point-blank range.
The Hammers held on for only their third home win of the season, one that
seems them climb to 16th in the league table. Burnley remain in 13th. Andy
Carroll was restored to the starting XI by Slaven Bilic, but cut an isolated
figure as he was starved of any decent service in the opening exchanges.
The hosts had strong shouts for a penalty waved away by referee Bobby Madley
in the 25th minute, as Michael Keane appeared to handle. Referee Madley
deemed it to be unintentional.
It wasn't until the 33rd minute that Tom Heaton was forced into making a
save in the Burnley goal, as he got down well to smother a rasping effort
from Michail Antonio. Three minutes later, Pedro Obiang went even closer, as
his fierce effort fizzed just past the post with Heaton beaten. the half
drew to a close, the hosts got that crucial breakthrough. Firstly, Noble saw
his superb curler from outside the box cannon back of the upright, before he
got another chance to break the deadlock from the spot, after Winston Reid
was bundled over in the box. The Hammers skipper stepped up and saw his
penalty saved by Heaton, but reacted fastest to smash home the rebound.
After the break, Burnley threw everything at the Hammers, but couldn't find
a way through. Vokes had three chances in quick succession, the final of
those the worst miss of the night.
It all started from a brilliant run from Scott Arfield which carried him
into the box, Darren Randolph blocked his goalbound effort, the loose ball
bounced up, Vokes charged in, but headed over with the goal gaping. Randolph
was again called into action in the Hammers goal, this time having to get a
strong hand to Arfield's free-kick in the 71st minute. Burnley continued to
throw everything at the hosts, but they couldn't find only a second away
goal of the season. Next up for the Hammers is Hull on Saturday - another
match the home faithful will expect three points from.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1-0 Burnley: Mark Noble's first-half strike keeps Hammers out of
the drop zone
Hammers fans were treated to only the side's third home win of the Premier
League season against a stubborn Burnley side
The Mirror
BYMIKE WALTERS
21:38, 14 DEC 2016UPDATED22:13, 14 DEC 2016

But West Ham were such a bag of nerves against a stubborn Burnley side that
you would not let them near the fairy lights on your tree for fear of being
electrocuted.

Hammers manager Bilic has never been further away from crisis than a length
of tinsel all season and edging past the Premier League's worst team on the
road is not the stuff of ringing endorsements.

And while Mark Noble's winner in first-half stoppage time earned Bilic
valuable breathing space, confidence at the Taxpayers' Stadium remains as
brittle as a festive bauble.

Make no mistake, the Hammers were worth their first win in eight games and,
if Dimitri Payet remains on the payroll beyond January, they will have
enough stardust to avoid the unthinkable.

But they were indebted to Wales striker Sam Vokes for a dreadful miss as
Burnley threatened to pick their pockets.

By the law of averages, Burnley - only one point, and as many goals, away
from their Turf Moor fortress all season - were due to pick up -something on
the road.

But they played with all the festive ambition of turkeys on a poultry farm.

Watching England manager Gareth Southgate would have been offered a mince
pie in the boardroom, but the Clarets offered only honest endeavour. At
least they knew what was coming when Andy Carroll was handed his first start
in four months by Bilic.

And Carroll took just 80 seconds to announce himself, climbing highest to
meet Michail Antonio's cross, but directing his header wide.

Aerial routes looked West Ham's -likeliest source of joy, and Michael Keane
appeared to field Payet's corner -inadvertently with his forearm.

But it took 32 minutes for either side to muster a shot on target, England
keeper Tom Heaton gathering Antonio's daisy-cutter with a routine stop.

Suitably encouraged by a rare sight of goal, the home side came close to
puncturing the tedium three minutes later as Pedro Obiang let fly from 25
yards and his effort brushed Heaton's right-hand upright.

As if to even things up, Heaton's other post was rattled by Noble's
spectacular curling shot, but the Hammers' skipper wasn't to be denied for
long.

In first-half stoppage time, referee Bobby Madley spotted Ben Mee's armlock
on Winston Reid and, although Heaton sprawled to his left to keep out
Noble's spot kick, he devoured the rebound, which ultimately settled the
match.

PLAYER RATINGS

West Ham

RANDOLPH 7 Costly fumble at Anfield forgiven, fine save from Arfield
free-kick

REID 7 Attentive at the back and hauled down for winning penalty

KOUYATE 6 Right-back not his best position but versatility has its virtues

OGBONNA 7 Gave Vokes and Gray less change than an arcade fruit machine

ANTONIO 7 Still in shock after scoring with his foot, not his head, at
Liverpool

NOBLE 8 Rattled post, saw penalty saved but pounced on the rebound

OBIANG 6 Fierce left-foot drive from distance clipped outside of a post

CRESSWELL 6 Took no prisoners and always keen to help the front line

PAYET 8 Enjoy him while you can, January is coming, vultures are circling

LANZINI 5 Fizzed around looking for openings but space was at a premium

CARROLL 6 Put himself about on first start at the Taxpayers Stadium

Burnley

HEATON 6 Not always comfortable in the air when put under pressure

LOWTON 6 One terrific block as Cresswell pulled the trigger

KEANE 7 Relished muscular contest with Carroll, looks the part

MEE 6 Gave away penalty when Clarets were within sight of the interval

WARD 6 Pegged back by Antonio's raids but useful set-piece delivery

ARFIELD 6 Steadier than a middle lane hog. Booked

MARNEY 6 Steadier than a motorway speed limit through roadworks

HENDRICK 5 Energy in abundance but quality was in short supply. Booked

BOYD 5 Covers an awful lot of ground, but so does my Vauxhall Astra

VOKES 5 Shocking miss, should have equalised but headed over

GRAY 5 Still to get going after pernicious ban for historic tweets

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com