West Ham 0-0 Bournemouth
by Paul Donovan
at London Stadium

WEST HAM let two more vital points slip away in this keenly contested game against Bournemouth at the London Stadium.

Given the precarious nature of West Ham’s position, there was a surprising lack of urgency, with the game reaching the final quarter before things went up a gear.

A pretty nondescript first half saw West Ham muster just two efforts. The first, an early header from Axel Disasi, pushed out by Bournemouth keeper Dorde Petrovic.

Then, a cross from Taty Castellanos, saw Crysencio Summerville get a foot in but again the keeper easily fielded the effort.

In the second half, a curling corner from Jarrod Bowen was kept out by Petrovic.

Castellanos went for a spectacular overhead effort from a Bowen cross but it went wide.

Then, a El Hadji Malick Diouf cross was touched on by Callum Wilson but pushed over by the keeper.

Bournemouth’s best efforts came when Rayan made a strong run from inside his own half, finishing with a shot that grazed the post.

Then, Alex Scott tested home keeper Mads Hermansen from distance but he saved low to his left.

The best chance for West Ham came deep into injury time when a mazy run from Summerville set up Bowen yards out but the usually reliable striker snatched at it and fired over.

Bournemouth were largely shut out for the whole game, occasionally stretching West Ham but forcing little from the home keeper.

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo felt that his team started well but just couldn’t get that vital goal. “We competed well and were solid. But there were a lot of situations with that final pass or final shot, not quite there,” said Espirito Santo, who is proud at the progress the team has made.

Bournemouth head coach, Andoni Iraola, was pleased to get a point. He felt the teams cancelled each other out for much of the game.

So honours even but more points dropped by West Ham making their escape from the drop zone look ever more problematic.