Garth Crooks mocks Angelo Ogbonna for role in Chelsea goal v West Ham
Garth Crooks regularly uses his weekly column to dig out Premier League performers and it was the turn of West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna after their defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.
The Irons lost 1-0 at the London Stadium to their top-four rivals, with Timo Werner’s first-half goal proving to be the difference, as the game descended into a farce during the second period with Fabian Balbuena’s controversial red card.
After the previous week’s shenanigans at St James Park where David Moyes’ side conceded some comical goals, Saturday’s encounter was a bit more secure.
But that didn’t stop Crooks exposing Ogbonna on the BBC website.
He named Blues forward Werner in his team of the week, and used the opportunity to highlight some dodgy defensive work from the Italian defender.
Crooks said: “The ball from Kante into Werner was wonderfully direct and Werner spun Angelo Ogbonna like he was spinning plates. Mason Mount played it into Ben Chilwell and the ball across the box to Werner to finish was all that was required.”
Brushed aside
Crooks may have been a little harsh here but there’s no denying that Ogbonna failed to use his strength here and was less than imposing.
Werner is a forward who is known more for playing on the shoulder of defences and looking to run in behind, with his body frame slight to say the least.
So we wouldn’t be expecting him to hold the ball up with his back to goal and be able to hold off Ogbonna to initiate an attack.
After playing the ball out wide the German attacker then raced into the box and finished off Chilwell’s cross for the solitary goal of the game, with Ogbonna way off the pace.
Saturday’s clash was only the second game back for the 32-year-old defender after an eight-game lay-off through injury, so we can forgive him for being a little rusty, particularly without his usual partner Craig Dawson, who was suspended.
But he’ll have to find his form again soon if we are serious about securing a European spot.
In other West Ham news, ‘Horrible’ – talkSPORT pundit slams ‘Shocking’ incident in 1-0 Irons loss v Chelsea.
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