Coping with Covid
In recent months, West Ham have been struggling with a defensive injury crisis and in the past few weeks a number of players have missed matches after positive COVID tests.
Injuries to Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Ben Johnson, Ryan Fredericks and Mark Noble have stretched the Hammers squad to its limits and since mid-December West Ham have had to deal with COVID absentees as well as Said Benrahma being unavailable due to AFCON duty.
The club have confirmed that Pablo Fornals, Tomas Soucek, Michail Antonio, Coufal and Zouma have all missed games due to positive test results, and these are just the ones we know about.
Unlike some other London based Premier League clubs West Ham have not once requested a postponement and were disappointed to see one game, the December clash with Norwich City, moved to January.
"I wasn't pleased with where the (Norwich) fixture was put in," Moyes said. "We've tried to be available for every game. The protocols at the club are so good. The club work to make sure everybody does the right things, we are on at the players all the time about their behaviour and making sure they stay safe."
Despite the number of injuries and COVID cases at the club the Hammers have been determined to get all their games played and have prepared for every match in the best way possible.
Moyes has managed the minutes of his team well, and the players should be applauded for playing through knocks with Craig Dawson in particular carrying on despite injury.
The Hammers have started 2022 in fine form and have the points on the board. If Arsenal and Tottenham win all their games in hand they would move above West Ham but there is no guarantee of that, Moyes has said he would rather have the points in the bag than be playing catch up.
The manner of the postponement of the North London Derby has left many in football furious. And if the past few weeks are anything to go by West Ham will not be following suit unless there is a serious COVID outbreak in the squad, certainly more than one case anyway.
Moyes frustration
The West Ham manager was visibly frustrated on the sidelines when the Hammers conceded a second goal. West Ham are a superb team at attacking set-pieces and one of the best in defending them, something that Moyes prides himself on.
Jack Harrison's second was a far too simple goal and the annoyance was doubled by the fact West Ham had fought so hard to get back into the game.
Raphinha's corner was far too easily met by Luke Ayling who had got in between Craig Dawson and Issa Diop far too easily to head down. His effort was then turned in by Jack Harrison from close range who ran off the back of Aaron Cresswell with ease. The left-back was at fault for the two Harrison first-half strikes and despite his assist for Jarrod Bowen's first-half goal he had an uncharacteristically poor match for West Ham.
Moyes is determined to get his team back to keeping clean sheets on a regular basis but the manner of the second goal was what most frustrated the manager with the Scot furious on the sidelines.
Zouma return
Diop and Dawson have in general filled in well for the injured Zouma and Ogbonna. The pair should have done better for Harrison's second and Diop in particular has been at fault for some of the goals West Ham have conceded of late, the match versus Crystal Palace springs to mind.
However, the pair have been largely reliable in the absence of Moyes' first-choice centre-backs but had afternoon's to forget against Leeds. With Zouma nearing a return the Frenchman is set to come straight back into the starting XI.
Six weeks after his hamstring injury the defender is back in training and was close to being included in the matchday squad against Leeds. With another week of training before the trip to Old Trafford, Zouma is set to return and is expected to be thrown straight in from the start. Prior to the centre-back's injury, Zouma was partnered with Dawson, with Diop on the bench. Dawson has been carrying a knock of his own so it remains to be seen which of Dawson or Diop will be chosen to partner the former Chelsea man but after Diop's nightmare afternoon he is unlikely to be in the team once Zouma returns.
Missed opportunity
With the North London Derby postponed, yesterday opened up a huge chance for West Ham to cement their spot in the top four and pile the pressure on their London rivals to make their games in hand count.
The Hammers came into the match on the back of a four-game winning streak, including a 2-0 victory over Leeds last weekend in the FA Cup but wasted the opportunity in the Premier League.
It was a disappointing display from West Ham full of defensive errors and with a midweek game in between the two high energy clashes with Leeds and this could have played a role in the lacklustre performance.
Moyes' aim this season is to record more than the record 66 points West Ham ended with last season and defeat likes this one are not going to help with that aim. Next up for the Hammers is a trip to Old Trafford. Manchester United are five points behind West Ham with two games in hand, victory against his former club will help Moyes' team move on from this damaging defeat and leave them in a superb position going into the winter break.
Bench options
Sonny Perkins could well have a huge future in the game but in the 87th minute when chasing an equaliser throwing on a teenager for his Premier League debut is not ideal. This is in no way meant to denigrate Perkins who did not have any opportunities in his limited game time but it does once again highlight the lack of options at Moyes' disposal.
If the manager had a proven goalscoring on the bench, or at least one with Premier League experience he may well have looked to change his team earlier on but as it was he rolled the dice for the final few minutes to no effect.
We are 17 days into the January transfer window and for the third time in a row West Ham have yet to add a striker to their squad. Moyes is keen to add depth this window but so far the Hammers are yet to make any moves, with two weeks left of the market being open a striker must surely be the priority.
