West Ham failed to score for the second game in a row as Julen Lopetegui’s side were held to a goalless draw by Everton at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon
West Ham failed to score for the second game in a row as Julen Lopetegui’s side were held to a goalless draw by Everton at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon West Ham failed to score for the second game in a row as Julen Lopetegui’s side were held to a goalless draw by Everton at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon
Former Premier League winner Martin Keown suggested West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has “lost the players” at the London Stadium, less than six months after taking over from David Moyes.
Lopetegui joined in the close-season, having left Wolves on the eve of the 2023-24 campaign, and was backed heavily in the transfer market. The Hammers have started slowly, though, picking up just 12 points from their first 11 games.
West Ham earned just their second league clean sheet of the season on Saturday. However, they were unable to find a goal of their own against Everton and were forced to settle for a draw.
Lopetegui’s team finished strongly, hitting the post through Crysencio Summerville and seeing Jordan Pickford produce a fine late save to deny Danny Ings. They struggled to create anything in the first half, though, prompting Keown to question the man in the dugout.
“It’s like Lopetegui has lost the players a little bit, he is shouting from the sidelines but some of his players are walking around,” former Arsenal defender Keown said. “It looks a stroll in the park for Everton at the moment and that is a real worry for West Ham.”
West Ham were missing Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez and Niclas Fullkrug for the match, and started slowly once again. It was a similar story in the last home game against Manchester United, but on that occasion they ground out a 2-1 win thanks to a controversial late penalty.
There was no such luck this time. Summerville came closest, and was a hair’s breadth from making it two goals in as many home games, but instead it was two games without scoring for Lopetegui’s team.
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“We had more chances than them. In the second half, we had more clear chances to win the game,” Lopetegui told Match of the Day after the goalless draw. “The first half was a gift for them. We lost 45 minutes. In the second half we did better, we were aggressive and had chances to win.
“The matches aren’t about 45 minutes. They are 90 minutes and [stoppage] time. That’s why I’m not happy, for sure. I think we can, and have to, do better.
“I can’t complain about the behaviour of the players in the second half. They were brave and they were aggressive. Pickford was one of their best players. Sometimes, it can happen that you don’t score. The positive thing is the clean sheet.”
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