Respite for Slaven Bilic as West Ham defeat Huddersfield after lucky break

West Ham claimed their first three points of the season with a scrappy win but for Slaven Bilic this was big. The home manager, celebrating his 49th birthday, was seen jumping up and down on the touchline like a schoolchild gifted a rather large present.
Two late strikes, one the result of a large deflection, the second a six yard box scramble, will somewhat cool off the Hammers hotv seat for another week. But while West Ham were full of endeavour they were short on quality and Huddersfield will feel disappointed to have lost.
It had been some time since the Hammers last completed a competitive match at their new, still unloved home. Robbie Williams had played the London Stadium more frequently than West Ham in the past four months. During that time the club welcomed a clutch of seasoned players and said goodbye to some who had only been acquired as recently as January. They were also in pursuit of Portuguese midfielder William Carvalho, a move that ended in acrimony and ridicule but with no signing. This period ended with four weeks in which the Hammers have contested three Premier League matches, all away from home, and lost every one shabbily.
Slaven Bilic has become accustomed to riding out pressure over the last year. The West Ham manager celebrated his 49 birthday here, and commemorated it by changing things up in search of three necessary points. Firstly he switched to an unfamiliar back three. He then also went adventurous up top, recalling Andy Carroll, himself making his first start in five months, and playing the big number nine alongside both Michail Antonio and Javier Hernández.
Huddersfield for their part were unchanged. Unsurprisingly so, given the unbeaten start that had even seen the Premier League debutants briefly top the table. After his team completed their third clean sheet in three matches, David Wagner called for his players to remain “humble”. This, as much as anything, means sticking to their jobs, maintaining the aggressive pressing game that has earned them rewards to date.
The crowd were up for the match and so were West Ham who immediately began tearing around the pitch trying to do right by their manager. Inevitably this meant a lot of lumping the ball towards Carroll, with his accomplices taking turns to race on beyond him. As early as the second minute a floated cross found Carroll at Huddersfield’s back post. Instead of heading, he opted to drop off his man and took the ball on his chest. He flashed the ball across goal but a sliding Cheikhou Kouyaté could not turn it in from inches out.
Ten minutes later and another clear opportunity came the home side’s way. This time it was all of Antonio’s making as the east end boy drove past Chris Löwe as if he wasn’t there and again managed to cut the ball back across the box. This time it skewed to Hernández but the Mexican poacher crashed his shot off the bar.
Half an hour into the match Huddersfield were recording as much as 70% possession. West Ham’s direct play meanwhile was racking up the corners. With five minutes remaining of the half they crafted another opportunity, perhaps their best. Carroll forced Mathias Jorgensen into a weak clearing header only for Kouyaté standing on the penalty spot, to make a complete hash of his shot.
West Ham had created all the opportunities and were full of determination. The Terriers, meanwhile, were resolute, persisting with their football despite the pressure. As the second half began they showed signs of becoming more assertive too, pushing more men into the Hammers box on attacks. Phillip Billing carved out their first effort on target in the 54th minute, saved low by Joe Hart. On the hour they eked out their first corner.
At the other end Hernández twice tried to play in Antonio, but neither opening resulted in a shot. For all their determination and energy, West Ham were lacking guile and a touch of calm. The more critical might even have observed they seemed something short of a full tactical plan. With 25 minutes remaining inspiration was sought in the form of André Ayew, replacing Hernández. The crowd booed the change, perhaps sensing the striker had been wasted out wide.
Salvation eventually did arrive however and Ayew played his part. In the 72nd minute the Ghanaian found Pedro Obiang just outside the Huddersfield box. The midfielder fired in a shot which would likely have been saved until the unfortunate Jorgensen turned his back on it and deflected the ball well over keeper Jonas Lossi and into the net. Five minutes later and Ayew turned in yet another Cresswell corner after José Fonte saw his shot blocked. The relief in the stadium was palpable.

SOURCE : GUARDIAN SPORTS
posted by CAMPUS94