Pranav Shahaney

Mon 6 March 2023 20:20, UK

Jermaine Beckford has slammed West Ham defender Ben Johnson for having a torrid encounter against Brighton’s Karou Mitoma.

The Japan international proved to be a constant thorn in the Hammers side and completely bossed the left flank as the Seagulls raced to a 4-0 win over the Hammers on 4 March.

Footage has emerged of the third goal from the game, one which made Beckford, a Sky Sports pundit, feel sorry for Johnson.

Speaking on the Premier League Weekend wrap up, Beckford said, “I feel sorry for Johnson, he had an absolutely torrid time against Mitoma.”

Absolute annihilation

Mitoma’s currently one of the best if not the best dribblers in the Premier League so playing against him was never going to be easy.

David Moyes knew this and opted to play Johnson and it ended up being the wrong decision as the Englishman failed to come up with the right answers.

This could’ve been the game for him to play a back three and perhaps deploy Kurt Zouma as a right centre-back in order to deal with the Japanese attacker.

We’re not surprised that a drubbing of that nature was handed to West Ham but what surprises us is the fact that Moyes is still at the club.

We do not know what more needs to happen for the board to part ways with him as this is the lowest of lows this season.

This is a West Ham side that finished in European places in the last two seasons and then signed players like Lucas Paqueta, Gianluca Scamacca and Nayef Aguerd – signings that would benefit most clubs in the English top flight.

There have been talks about Michael Carrick coming in and in our view, he would be an ideal replacement.