WHZ View: Michail Antonio has night to forget in final third in West Ham win v Crystal Palace
West Ham United battled to way to yet another impressive Premier League victory against Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
Despite going behind early through Wilfried Zaha, two goals from Tomas Soucek and Craig Dawson ensured the points before a late consolation strike.
This win dragged the Irons into the Champions League spots, and it is nothing less than David Moyes deserves for his efforts this season.
Despite the victory, Michail Antonio had a night to forget in the final third.
The 30-year-old grabbed an assist against Palace but missed clear chances that could have handed him the match ball at Selhurst Park.
No one managed more shots on goal than Antonio, who had five opportunities to find the back of the net – hitting the post twice [WhoScored].
Looking at his first chance, this was his hardest of the evening.
After great work to intercept Cheikh Kouyate’s pass, Antonio did everything right – keeping the ball low and hard before smashing the post.
The second one was much worst.
After Aaron Cresswell fired a low ball across goal that was going wide, all Antonio had to do was guide it into the net, but he instead made far too much contact and smashed it against the post yet again with the net begging.
If that one was bad, get ready for the worst of the bunch.
Antonio couldn’t have believed his luck when the ball fell to him only six-yards out, but all he could was smash it against Vicente Guaita, rather than simply place it into one of the corners.
No matter how many arrows we could draw, this one is best left alone.
How Antonio managed to miss this one, we don’t know. The 30-year-old couldn’t have wished for a better chance after hitting the woodwork twice, but it didn’t bring the end result of another goal.
This will be a concern for Moyes.
With only one week left in the window this month, the Irons will be determined to add more competition for Antonio, who certainly had a night to forget in the final third.
In other West Ham United news, Irons Super Fans select Man of the Match in Palace win