West Ham United noticed their current four-game successful run in all competitions come to an finish on Sunday afternoon, with David Moyes’ aspect held to a irritating draw away to relegation-threatened Southampton at St Mary’s.
The Hammers had fallen behind early on following Romain Perraud’s deflected strike, earlier than skipper Declan Rice ended his prolonged Premier League aim drought to fireplace residence fantastically simply after the hour mark, with the 2 sides left to accept some extent following what was an entertaining encounter on the south coast.
The overriding feeling might be considered one of disappointment for the away aspect having loved 61% possession on the day and recorded 25 photographs to their opponents’ ten, with it one thing of a missed alternative towards a aspect who presently discover themselves within the drop zone.
The Irons had not been helped heading into the sport, nonetheless, on account of a succession of absences within the defensive ranks, with the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson all lacking out, forcing Moyes to deploy one thing of a makeshift backline in a again 5 formation.
That harm disaster resulted within the return of full-back Vladimir Coufal to the beginning XI having sat out the final two top-flight video games, though the Czech Republic worldwide didn’t take that likelihood after producing a below-par show on the day.
The £10.8m-rated dud was unable to offer the required attacking impetus from his wing-back berth, notably finishing simply two of his eight crosses towards Ralph Hasenhuttl’s aspect, with soccer.london’s Jonty Colman noting: “his crosses were just short of what was needed and by some way too”.
The 30-year-old additionally proved one thing of a legal responsibility in possession as he squandered the ball on 21 events throughout his 90-minute outing, subsequently recording a slightly dismal 73% go accuracy price in consequence.
The former Slavia Prague man had misplaced his place to summer season signing Thilo Kehrer in current weeks within the league and it was straightforward to see why following one other lukewarm efficiency, with the Evening Standard’s Malik Ouzia echoing that view by stating that it was “another display which showed why the Czech has lost his shirt recently.”
Such a exhibiting will probably have performed the 32-cap machine few favours when Moyes does have better defensive choices to select from as soon as again, having solely simply been criticised for his lack of ‘end product’, by the aforementioned Colman, following Thursday’s win over Anderlecht.
An undoubtedly hard-working asset – as illustrated by the truth that the full-back received 100% of his aerial duels this afternoon – it will seem that Coufal is solely missing that much-needed high quality in an attacking sense.