It's in to the Best Cafe with daughter Lola, where Scott and Joe are enjoying big breakfasts and Nigel is anticipating showing us the meridian line plaque by the Builders pub. Matt and Lisa are in a Cornish cottage (terrible planning by Lisa's family) while Michael's been to Ken's Cafe and Fraser is sporting a new Adam Faith haircut.
West Ham get off to a great start as Saivet passes straight to Arnautovic. Arnie runs from the halfway line and expertly pokes past the keeper before giving a crossed hammers salute. We're up against a team that hasn't won for ten games. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot. Gavin's late after failing to buy a turkey in Wapping and has missed the goal. The Irons stat giving away dangerous free kicks and from the second Saivet curls home a great effort. Michael is convinced Adrian should have done better.
The Toon then start slicing open West Ham's defence on the right. Gayle strikes the bar and then Ritchie curls a screamer against the post. We'e lucky to be level at half-time. We congregate by the loos and Michael muses on mortality as his birthday approaches.
The second half sees the side revert to earlier season defending. Atsu nutmegs Zabaleta and crosses for one Mo Diame to sweep home. At last Diame has the decency not to celebrate.
It looks like the Hammers will equalise after gaining a penalty when Antonio is fouled on the line of the penalty area. Ayew never looks confident and Elliot makes a comfortable save. We then really revert to Bilic mode, conceding from our own corner. Masuaku hesitates and Zabaleta can't retrieve the situation. Newcastle break at speed and Atsu prods home.
The Hammers launch it at sub Andy Carroll. There's some hope as Andy gets his head on a corner and Ayew pokes in after Elliot's save. Lola sends a message for Luke Skywalker but he says all hope is gone. The Newcastle Empire holds out against much huffing and puffing and it's a very poor home defeat.
All rather mystifying as we'd looked so secure defensively of late. We've badly missed Lanzini and also Noble's influence in midfield. The Irons have to improve against Bournemouth.
PLAYER RATINGS: Adrian 5; Zabaleta 5, Reid 5, Ogbonna 5, Cresswell 5; Obiang 5, Kouyate 5, Ayew 5 (Hernandez 5), Masuaku 6; Anautovic 7, Antonio 6 (Carroll 6).
2 comments:
Yes, no happy Christmas points wise. We never looked right - hope the new manager effect isn't over. Still though, Merry Christmas!
And to your MJ!
Post a Comment