West Ham United’s woes would worsen as they’d succumb to London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium. The resulting 1-1 draw with Everton left them still staring at the 1-1 inwards, their eighth top-flight match without a win. On Sunday, West Ham were in for a rough time against a Bournemouth side missing the dangerous Dominic Solanke. He was unable to participate because he had self-injured in a prior match versus Bodo/Glimt. An away goal will give Solanke a big advantage going into the second leg in Norway on Thursday. His absence was felt on the pitch and contributed to West Ham’s misfortunes this season.
Manager Graham Potter assured supporters that Solanke is “getting better,” and fans can dream of a quick return. West Ham were as fortunate as they were impressive in beating Tottenham. Their current run has equalled the club’s record longest winless run in the Premier League, set from October to December 2017.
Match Overview and Key Moments
What a scene it was at first kick. Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrated scoring an equaliser. He tricked the Spurs defense and finished by slipping the ball through goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s five-hole at the near post. Bowen’s performance was a testament to his dedication to the club, saying in an Instagram after the match,
“People don’t see how I am every single day. All I do is try and be the best player, team-mate and captain I can be and show what it means to play at this club.”
After all his hard work, it only took Tottenham two minutes to respond, equalising almost immediately after West Ham had gone ahead. The draw left West Ham fans yearning for more as they continue to search for a winning formula under Potter’s management.
Injury Concerns Mounting
In addition to Solanke’s injury, West Ham faces further challenges with concerns surrounding James Maddison’s health. On Maddison’s remarkable reality, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou added,
“It doesn’t look great, but we’re just waiting for further information, so we’ll just wait and see.”
Rookie Lucas Bergvall has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season. This only compounds the expanding injury list that has plagued West Ham all season long.
These injuries both hampering selection and performance level made Potter’s tenure all the more harshly criticized. He has recorded just three victories in his 16 matches in charge of West Ham, raising questions about his ability to turn the team’s fortunes around.
Looking Ahead
With plenty of football still to come this season, Graham Potter and his side are eager to finish on a strong note. His priority is still to regain confidence inside the camp and climbing up their league position. Bowen acknowledged the weight of responsibility that comes with being captain and the scrutiny that accompanies it:
“When you’re captain, all eyes are on you, all questions are on you. I enjoy that responsibility. It’s not been the season we wanted, and fingers have been pointed at me. I’m big enough to accept that, I’ve been here long enough, and my ego isn’t going to be touched by people asking questions.”
The coming matches will be crucial for West Ham as they look to break their winless streak and regain momentum. They’re preparing to face Bodo/Glimt in Norway for their next Europa League group stage match. All concerned are confident that Solanke will overcome injury woes and further bolster their firepower.
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