Smith Rowe: I’m close with Saka on and off the pitch
Follow all the action as West Ham welcome West Brom to the London Stadium in the Premier League’s early kick-off this evening.
David Moyes’ side have been in tremendous form this season, with victory against Brighton last time out lifting the Hammers to within touching distance of a European place. Michail Antonio scored the winner then, providing a timely boost after the sale of Sebastien Haller to Ajax earlier this month. The club are continuing to search for a replacement, but that appears to not be an urgent cause for concern with West Ham now unbeaten in all competitions since 21 December.
Meanwhile, West Brom come into the fixture with renewed momentum after a vital 3-2 victory over rivals Wolves last week. That result has breathed life into Sam Allardyce’s rescue mission, with the Baggies now just five points adrift of safety. Allardyce knows the Hammers well after his four-year stint in charge of the club between 2011 and 2015 and believes it’s vital his side do not concede first to have a chance of taking all three points. Follow all the action live below:
West Ham 2 – 1 West Brom
72 mins: West Ham whip a free kick into the box. Soucek wins the ball and Gallagher comes in from behind, boots it away and takes the man in the process. The Hammers want a penalty but don’t get one even after a VAR check.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:31
West Ham 2 – 1 West Brom
69 mins: Darnell Furlong comes on for West Brom replacing Kamil Grosicki. He heads out to the right wing so it doesn’t look like a change in formation for Sam Allardyce.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:28
West Ham 2 – 1 West Brom – Antonio
66 mins: GOAL! Two goals in two games for Michail Antonio. Cresswell delivers fine cross into the box from the left. Yarmolenko wins the first ball and knocks it down for Antonio who shoots on the spin and slots it home.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:23
West Ham 1 – 1 West Brom
63 mins:West Ham make a couple of changes as Pablo Fornals is on for Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko replaces Said Benrahma.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:21
West Ham 1 – 1 West Brom
60 mins: Close from Rice. He brings down the ball on the edge of the box and tries to curl an effort into the bottom right corner. He hits it well but misses to the right of goal.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:18
West Ham 1 – 1 West Brom
57 mins: West Ham look to respond to the goal but sending Cresswell down the left wing. His cross is blocked by O’Shea but he does win a corner. Cresswell’s deliver comes to Rice at the near post and he flicks it out to Soucek. He pass back to Cresswell is wayward and goes out of play.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:16
West Ham 1 – 1 West Brom
54 mins: West Brom win a corner and Grosicki curls it into the box. West Ham deal with it easily enough as the ball is booted away.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:13
West Ham 1 – 1 West Brom – Pereira
51 mins: GOAL! Matheus Pereira is allowed time and space on the ball. He carries it to the edge of the box and hits one with his left foot. The shot is directed towards the far bottom corner. Fabianski dives to his left but can’t reach the ball. It’s a very well guided effort that finishes inside of the back post to give West Brom an equaliser.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:09
West Ham 1 – 0 West Brom
48 mins: West Brom work the ball into the box with a pass into Pereira. He’s able to turn but comes face-to-face with Ogbonna so he slots the ball to his right in a short pass to Gallagher. He attempts to cross the ball to the back post but miscues the ball straight to Fabianski.
Michael Jones19 January 2021 19:08
