West Ham must wise up if they want to reach Europa League last four
West Ham United head to Northern France tomorrow hoping to return to English shores as Europa League semi-finalists as they take on Lyon.
The Irons are level-pegging with the Ligue 1 side after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium, despite Aaron Cresswell receiving a controversial red card in the first half.
Hammers manager David Moyes will have to put his trust in either Ben Johnson or Ryan Fredericks on the left of his back four which could be something Lyon looks to expose.
Jarrod Bowen bundled home the Irons’ goal before Tottenham Hotspur loanee Tanguy Ndombele tapped home a rebound to equalise for the French outfit.
West Ham though have some of their own downfalls that don’t acquaint to Cresswell that they need to address if they want to remain standing at the end of Thursday’s second leg.
One major weakness that Lyon were quick to exploit last week was the gaps between some of the Hammers defenders.
As shown above, Fredericks had come racing out to the left-winger to stop him from delivering a cross, as he should, but a gap was left behind him which the central midfielder burst into.
Craig Dawson should have stepped across to close that gap even slightly and that would have quashed the danger before it arose.
Once they went down to 10-men, West Ham also sat far too deep on the edge of their own box and they were nearly punished more than once.
On this occasion, Ndombele let fly from distance without too much pressure from in front of him as the majority of the Irons players had sunk into their own 18-yard area.
He tried it on a couple of occasions to no avail but sooner or later he will connect with one and send the Hammers crashing out.
It wasn’t all bad for Moyes though and he will have been very encouraged by the direct running of his wingers.
Here, both Said Benrahma and Bowen are darting in behind the Lyon defence to get onto ta long ball from Dawson and this was maybe their best chance other than the goal.
It isn’t fashionable football but when it’s done right, it is incredibly effective and they have to take advantage of it again in France tomorrow.
In other West Ham news, Frank McAvennie spoke exclusively to us at West Ham Zone and thinks this player can be a difference-maker in big games.
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