Watford vs West Ham: Hammers are trying to reach the top four

Yesterday, West Ham had their last first leg game in the 2021-22 Premier League at Vicarage Road. They successfully defeated Watford and are keeping in touch with the top four of the competition not too far.

By: Harry Siuu

12/28/2021 23:31

Line-ups

Watford: Vincent Angelini, Femenia (Imran Louza 40’), Dan Gosling, James Morris, Kamil Conteh, Tufan (Ken Sema 62’), Ashley Fletcher, Hernandez (Joao Pedro 46’)
West Ham: Alphonse Areola, Ajibola-Joshua Alese, Ryan Fredericks, Harrison Ashby, Benrahma (Nikola Vlasic 85’), Johnson (Arthur Masuaku 82’), Lanzini (Alex Kral 90’), Armstrong Oko-Flex, Andriy Yarmolenko

Match preview

Looking at the standings of the two clubs, it is obvious that The Hammers have been playing better. However, they have not been in their best forms recently. Watford, despite having to wait for almost three weeks to play due to the COVID-19 virus, haven’t gained any points since the end of November. They have lost 11 Premier League games within their 16 matches, standing in 17th position.

On the other hand, the visitors have only obtained five points from the seven latest games. They had a chance to welcome Southampton, who are having trouble with their performances, at London Stadium on Gifting Day, but West Ham couldn’t end their string of bad results when they lost 2-3 on their home ground. They used to be in the top four, but dropped to the sixth rank and have suffered many losses and draws recently.

This game would be highly considered to be a draw rather than being a show for one team to shine.

David Moyes’s students defeated with a three-goal-gap at Vicarage Road

What happened went opposite what we expected. David Moyes guided his students to a big win at Vicarage Road with four goals from four players. It has been pointed out that David Moyes carefully prepared an equal-player force.

The home club gained the first goal too soon, right in the fourth minute with a left-foot shot from Dennis. He had enough time and space to handle this goal in front of a loose defending line from West Ham.

Dennis scored the opening goal for the home team in the 4th minute

Dennis scored the opening goal for the home team in the 4th minute

In the 27th minute, Tomas Soucek equalized the score for the Hammers with an assist from Jarrod Bowen. The visitors quickly turned the table with their second goal just two minutes after Tomas’s goal. It was scored by Benrahma. With a careless defense from the home club and a loss of goal, Watford easily delivered the ball to Watford’s net within three passes.

Bowen was one of the best players on the pitch

Bowen was one of the best players on the pitch

In the 48th minute, it was thought that Bowen brought the third goal for the Hammers, but after a VAR review from the referee, the goal wasn’t recognized due to the foul of Soucek with Dennis. However, in the 58th minute, Bowen redeemed himself by bringing a penalty shot award for the club. Watford’s goalkeeper couldn’t control the ball in this situation and led to the fall of Bowen in the box.

The captain took responsibility for this penalty shot, and Mark Noble proved to be the most experienced player in the West Ham squad with his calm shot to increase the score to 3-1 for West Ham.

Mark Noble- West Ham's captain nailed the penalty shot in the 58th minute

Mark Noble- West Ham's captain nailed the penalty shot in the 58th minute

Watford tried to raise their squad and attack more in the rest of the game, but they failed to break the net of West Ham due to the excellence of the PSG loaned goalkeeper Areola. They even had to suffer the fourth goal in the last minute of the match. Nikola Vlasic was the player who nailed this shot with the assist from Bowen.

Updated 2021-22 Premier League table

After the match between Watford and West Ham United, the visitors climbed to fifth standing, while The Golden Boys remained in 17th place. West Ham are aiming for the top four because they only have four points fewer than the fourth-placed club, Arsenal.

However, Tottenham still have two more games before finishing their first half and they only have one point fewer than The Hammers. This means that the standing of West Ham is still in danger and to be safe in the top four, there are many things to do.

On the other hand, the distance between Watford and the table-bottom club, Norwich City, is only a win. They have obtained 13 points, while 18th and 19th-ranked clubs have 11 points and Norwich City, sitting at the bottom of the table, have 10 points.

While West Ham are making all attempts to reach the top four, it seems that the only purpose of Watford is to not meet the relegation.

2021-22 Premier League table