Martin Keown drools over West Ham midfielder Declan Rice v Southampton
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has put in yet another top-class performance in the 3-1 defeat against Southampton in the FA Cup fifth-round tie on Wednesday (2 March) at St Mary’s.
Martin Keown, who was commentating on the game for BBC Sport, has showered paise heaps on praise on the England midfielder.
Southampton took the lead in the first half through a long-range pile driver from Romain Perraud. The Hammers restored parity with Michail Antonio finally breaking his goalscoring jinx with an easy finish.
The Saints scored another in the second half when Armando Broja has been taken down in the box by a sliding challenge from Craig Dawson. James Ward-Prowse scored from the spot.
Broja scored a spectacular solo goal late on, as he weaved through the Hammers’ defence and curled into the far corner.
Keown said, as quoted by the BBC Sport website: “Declan Rice has improved. He’s got really good pace and drives forward. People are comparing him to Steven Gerrard. He’s calm with his passing. He’s growing in stature.”
Brilliant from Rice
It was once again another top-notch performance from the England midfielder.
In the first half, he made a vital tracking run into to own areas to intercept a pass and prevented the Saints from creating a dangerous opening through Adam Armstrong.
Again, he made a driving run, something we have seen him doing a lot this season, into the Saints box and sets up Michail Antonio who made a wrong decision to shoot.
Rice managed to string 65 passes during the game, per Who scored. He has attempted as many as 14 long balls, and Keown has rightly suggested that passing is one area where he has improved a lot.
The 23-year-old has made one tackle and three clearances. He was head and shoulders above the rest, but unfortunately, his teammates didn’t really step up.
In other West Ham news, this Championship teenager is on the Irons’ radar for a summer transfer window swoop.
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