West Ham 3-2 Burnley
by Paul Donovan
at the London Stadium

WEST HAM emerged winners against Burnley in a game high on endeavour but low on quality at the London Stadium.

In many ways it was a game settled by goalkeeping errors. Two from Burnley’s Martin Dubravka, one at the death from his West Ham counterpart Alphonse Areola.

Half an hour into a game, that had seen the ball spend more time in the air than on the ground, Burnley took the lead.

A cross from the right saw Zian Flemming rise above Max Kilman to head home.

The home side then rallied, Jarrod Bowen seeing his shot go narrowly wide.

On the stroke of half time, the dangerous Crysencio Summerville’s shot inside the area, hit defender Axel Tuanzebe to set up an easy header for Callum Wilson. All square at the break.

West Ham picked up the initiative in the second half, resulting in a shot from Lucas Paqueta on the right being palmed out by Dubrovnik into the path of the onrushing substitute Tomas Soucek, who forced home.

There was then a second spill by Dubrovnik, from a Bowen shot, that was this time forced home by another substitute, Kyle Walker-Peters.

Areola then pushed a free kick from Jacob Bruun Larsen round the post.

In the final minute, Burnley pulled one back, when Areola failed to hold a shot, allowing Josh Cullen to bundle home.

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was full of praise for Soucek’s contribution: “You cannot have anything but respect for Tomas. He gets into the box and has belief.”

Burnley head coach, Scott Parker, was critical of his team’s lapse in concentration. He felt they started well, taking the lead but then let West Ham take the initiative.

“We switched off. If you switch off for one second in this league, the ball ends up in the back of the net,” said Parker.

So, back to back wins for West Ham, going into the international break, as they seek to clamber out of the relegation zone.