Pundit shares what he didn’t like seeing in West Ham United 3-1 loss v Manchester City
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie believes West Ham should have had a go in their Premier League loss to Manchester City, instead of sitting back.
The defending champions handed the Hammers their first defeat of the new campaign with a 3-1 win at the London Stadium on Saturday (16 September).
Summer signing James Ward-Prowse opened the scoring in the 36th minute, but second half goals from Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland clinched all three points for the visitors.
Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “As soon as we went 1-0 up I thought, ‘Oh no’. It’s a given, you get a free pass when you’re playing against Man City, because you aren’t expected to get anything.
“We defended and we got beaten 3-1, so have a go. If you have a go, who knows? If you sit back and give Man City possession, they are going to beat you. They have got the players that can find a way through you. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, they will find a way through.
“But you could get in their faces, get the ball and go the other way. And with the crowd, as soon as you take the ball off one of the big names, the atmosphere changes, because they are right behind you. I don’t like seeing these defensive rows.”
The defeat leaves David Moyes’s side sitting sixth in the Premier League table, with three wins, one draw and one loss so far. Manchester City meanwhile remain at the very top, having won all five of their league matches so far.
Things don’t get any easier for the Hammers next time out as they travel to high-flying Liverpool on Sunday (24 September).
In other West Ham news, Moyes has confirmed a start for one Hammers player in their Europa League clash against Backa Topola.