Sky Sports pundit slams Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna for West Ham United at Newcastle United
Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna were slammed by Andy Hinchcliffe for their “diabolical” defending as West Ham went behind early at Newcastle.
Joe Willock had apparently put the Magpies ahead inside the first minute, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review showed the ball had gone out of play before Miguel Almiron crossed it in.
But the reprieve was immediately wasted when Callum Wilson was set free between the Irons duo to slot home, and Hinchcliffe blasted the Hammers defenders for ball-watching to let it happen.
Speaking live on the Sky Sports match commentary (4 February, 5.33pm) Hinchcliffe said: “It looks like Kehrer is playing him onside. I’m looking at Kehrer and Ogbonna, two of the three West Ham centre-halves, and they’re watching the ball, they’re not defending Callum Wilson.
“Watch Wilson in between the centre-halves, who are watching the ball and not the man. That’s why they’re caught out and that’s why Newcastle take the lead.
“I mentioned matching the intensity and the desire of Newcastle and they’ve just been caught out in the first couple of minutes on two occasions.
“Top movement from Wilson but the defending from West Ham is diabolical.”
Nightmare start
It was always going to be a tough test to head to St James’ Park under the flood lights, but the Hammers made it all the harder by making it quite plain that their goal could be got at straight away.
The let off that VAR provided for Willock’s disallowed goal should have been a warning for the West Ham defence, but it went completely unheeded as they offered up another opportunity which was immediately taken.
The back line looked uncertain throughout the half, so won’t have inspired a huge amount of confidence in the supporters for the remainder of the game.
Lucas Paqueta’s equaliser dragged the visitors back into the match, after which there was a spell of dominance that looked unlikely before the Brazilian found the net.
That shows there is definitely a result available in this game for David Moyes and his players, but they are going to need to tighten up at the back significantly to secure it.
The embattled manager might have thought he was playing it safe by going with a back five, but it hasn’t proven to be that way so far.