David Moyes has bemoaned a series of refereeing decisions in the run of results that had West Ham sitting just a place outside the relegation zone coming into this fixture, but tonight he can thank one for setting his side en route to the victory that, such is the condensed nature of the Premier League table, has them climbing into the top half.
At Stamford Bridge at the start of September, Moyes’ side were robbed of a point by a horrendously forensic VAR call, then at St. Mary’s little more than a week ago, perhaps denied all three by an official keen to get a little too involved.
Here, it was non-action on the part of VAR Mike Dean that spared the Hammers as he - somewhat uncharacteristically - declined to intervene, or at least was warned off doing so by nonsensical handball laws as Thilo Kehrer’s in the build-up to Kurt Zouma’s decisive effort was deemed not to have led directly to the goal.
West Ham certainly deserved all three points, though as they have found all too often already this season, deserving and getting are two different things, and they could have reason to feel aggrieved themselves as Jefferson Lerma escaped a red card for his horrific high tackle on Gianluca Scamacca early in the second half. There was little controversy, either, in the spot-kick given for handball against Bournemouth substitute Jordan Zemura late on that allowed Said Benrahma to wrap up a 2-0 win.
In the crucial moment just before the break, however, the hosts found luck on their side.
Kehrer, either showcasing his volleyball skills or else paying niche homage to wrestling duo D-Generation X, kept the ball alive from Jarrod Bowen's corner and Tomas Soucek’s header was vital, not only helping it on to Zouma but in ensuring sufficient player involvement between his teammate’s infringement and the goal to prevent a VAR overhaul. Zouma flicked in from close range for his first goal since November last year.
Until then, it had been a frustrating half for the Hammers. Perennial slow starters who have struggled to get going before the break all season, Moyes’ side actually played some fine, flowing stuff but failed to create chances and saw their rhythm interrupted by a string of stoppages for Bournemouth injuries as visiting players lay stricken across the London Stadium turf, looking like split packet of Parma Violets.
After the interval, they did not recover the same zest, despite the best efforts of Benrahma in a lively showing that strengthened his claim to what seems the only space truly up for grabs in Moyes’ first-choice XI when every player is fit. It was fitting then, that with Bowen - who missed at Anfield - already replaced, the Algerian stepped up to rattle home the clincher from 12 yards.
Downes struggles in new role
It is fair to say that there have been a few occupants of No10 ill-suited to the role since the start of the season and you can now add Flynn Downes to the list.
The lifelong Hammers fan, signed from Swansea in the summer after excelling in holding midfield throughout the Championship season, was an eye-catching selection in that position here, as Moyes chose to overlook the likes of Pablo Fornals and the increasingly out-of-favour Manuel Lanzini in his search for a short-term replacement for the injured Lucas Paqueta.
Downes had nominally occupied that area of the pitch during the second half of last midweek’s defeat to Liverpool, but his move inside from an equally unfamiliar right-midfield role at half-time at Anfield seemed designed to put pressure on Thiago Alcantara out of possession, rather than in expectation of much creativity with it.
The 23-year-old did a grand enough job, but at home to newly-promoted Bournemouth the job description demanded more invention, incision and guile. Downes could not quite provide it, never sure when or where to run beyond Gianluca Scamacca, nor comfortable drifting wide to fill the spaces left by Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma, as each of the Hammers’ inverted wingers cut inside.
Downes has impressed in his best position when afforded opportunities in Europe and at some point deserves chance to do likewise in the League.
