Match Report by @WestHamAmerican

West Ham staved off a near disastrous outing at the London Stadium today when Javier Hernandez quickly answered Ryan Fraser’s 71^st minute goal to hold a draw and keep the Hammer’s record of seven matches without loss in all competitions.

The match was an interesting study in roster management.  Both sides had mid-week FA Cup ties against lower competition.  While West Ham had made seven changes prior to that match, they required extra time and a long shift by Manual Lanzini and other regular first teamers to earn a late 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town.  For the Cherries, they played a predominantly youthful side against Wigan and fell 3-0, but preserved their primary contributors.

In the early going the match was entirely owned by the hosts. Pablo Zabaleta crossed to Marko Arnautovic whose shot was collected by a strong effort from Asmir Begović.  The Bosnian played well to keep West Ham out of the goal.  Pedro Obiang had another dangerous effort but his shot was just off of target.

After the initial half hour of play, the Hammers seemed to lose their focus and intensity.

The Bournemouth goal was primarily a result of Junior Stanislas’s set up.  He found Fraser on the left side of the area and his shot sailed out of Adrian’s reach inside the near post.

It took only a minute for West Ham to answer as Hernandez, who had come on for an injured Lanzini, picked up a rebounded shot from Arnautovic and found the equaliser off of the kick off.

With time to go, West Ham desperately wanted all three points but was unable to generate much attacking creativity absent Lanzini.  Bournemouth almost took the match for themselves when soon after the previous goal Stanislas took aim and Adrian was able to direct the shot over the crossbar.

Neither team was able to muster another goal, and the match ended 1-1.  The most notable results of the day for the Hammers were the injuries to Lanzini and Aaron Cresswell.  A very good team is in the training room, recovering, and while West Ham have the benefit of bottom-half competition for the next four matches, they will suffer without returning contributions from Michel Antonio and Jose Fonte.

The Hammers remain 11^th in the league but only five points from safety.  Regardless of the outcome of the approaching FA Cup tie with Wigan, West Ham will need to find some victories over the next four weeks to ensure safety.  The most important member of the club as of now is the team physio.

Please continue to follow TheWestHamWay.co.uk as the January transfer window comes to a close.  @ExWHUemployee has the latest information before everyone else does.  Follow us all month long.

West Ham: Adrian, Zabaleta, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku, Obiang, Noble, Kouyate, Lanzini, Arnautovic.

Subs: Hart, Byram (92) , Hernandez (64), Rice (90’), Cullen,  Martinez, Burke

Bournemouth: Begovic, Ake, S. Cook, Francis, Daniels, Smith, L. Cook, Gosling, Fraser, Ibe, Wilson.

Subs: Boruc, Surman, King (85’), Stanislas (62’), Mousset, Simpson, Taylor

Referee: Martin Atkinson