Record buy Nacer Chadli fired home and early penalty after a weird handball by Arthur Masuaku.
Advertisement
Antonio’s goal and Lanzini’s strike from the penalty spot with just over 20 minutes to go seemed to prompt the start of what could have been an wonderful comeback. Hopes were high for the Hammers this term following an impressive first season under the Croatian, a host of new signings and their move to the Olympic Stadium, but they have now lost four of five Premier League matches in 2016/17 to go along with their Europa League play-off round loss to Astra Giurgiu.
West Brom winger Matt Phillips enjoyed plenty of success against the Frenchman and was showboating before half-time.
West Ham conceded another ten minutes into the second period after Rondon counter-attacked from inside his own half. “The problem is big, we can’t say we were just unlucky”, he added. “We can’t plan for individual mistakes, but some of them were collective and they created the chance after eight or 10 seconds of the game, and that’s what I’m talking about. We’ve had a few at the start of the season and we have a problem”, Bilic said.
Bilic made a double substitution for the second half, taking off Mark Noble and the ineffective Simone Zaza in favour of Sofiane Feghouli and Jonathan Calleri.
“I know that we have a problem and I am the manager and I have to do everything to turn this around, solve that problem”. It happens so many times since the start of the season – too many times.
But before either hand chance to make an impact, West Brom had stretched their lead to four – heights unheard of since Pulis took charge in January a year ago – with another goal handed to them on a plate. The difference is we’ve won the game and that changes people’s perceptions.
“The defending is not as required in a league like the Premier League”.
‘My key word after last week was “again”.
West Ham, who have now conceded 11 goals in their last three Premier League matches, replied with Michail Antonio’s header and a Manuel Lanzini penalty but never looked like completing the unlikely comeback.
Advertisement
West Ham are in midweek action in the EFL Cup, entertaining League two Accrington Stanley, followed by the visit of Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday, 25 September.
