For a defence as porous as West Ham United’s in recent seasons, it has been quite a week in the Premier League. Two wins over highly-rated teams, seven goals scored and perhaps most pleasingly of all for their absent manager, two clean sheets.
After keeping Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman Raul Jimenez quiet in the 4-0 win, they repeated the trick to totally nullify the threat of Jamie Vardy at the King Power.
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It was only a week ago that Vardy scored a hat-trick against Manchester City but he was unable to reprise a similar performance against West Ham. Vardy failed to attempt a shot on target against David Moyes’s side and the striker had 30 touches, which was the fewest by any outfield player including both goalkeepers.
Jamie Vardy’s touches against West Ham
West Ham have won successive Premier League games with clean sheets for the first time since May 2019. They conceded 68 times three seasons ago, 55 a year later and had one of the league’s leakiest defences again last season with 62 goals against. But Fabian Balbuena, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, who provided the assists for Michail Antonio and Pablo Fornals’ goals, have markedly improved since the start of the season and it would not be a surprise if the club were reluctant to augment their defence with more additions on deadline day, should they miss out on targets. The one man they have brought, Vladimir Coufal, made a brilliant start to his West Ham career.
It was on Friday morning when the signing of Coufal from Slavia Prague was announced and he performed well offensively and defensively. Whether it was long balls or repeated attempts at a defence-splitting pass, Leicester could not get past West Ham’s new right-back.
“Obviously we know a lot about him from watching a lot of footage and we know about him as a character because of Tomas (Soucek) and we knew the level that he is used to playing at,” said Alan Irvine, again in charge with Moyes at home having tested positive for COVID-19. “He was fit and available to play but what we needed to do was pick up on what we needed him to do within two very short training sessions.”
With Ryan Fredericks ruled out until after the international break with a hamstring injury, Coufal will be the first-choice right-back. Not only did he play a big part in the defence limiting the supply for Vardy, but he looked a threat when West Ham launched an attack from the back. In fact, it was Coufal’s pass to Antonio which led to Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu fouling the forward. Antonio played the quickly-taken free kick to Cresswell who floated a cross towards the back post and Antonio powered in the header.
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No player has scored more headed goals (18) in the Premier League than Antonio since he made his debut in the league in September 2015. Antonio is also the first West Ham player to score in five successive Premier League away games, with the forward netting eight goals in this run.
When play was stopped momentarily in the 23rd minute, Coufal went to the technical area and received words of encouragement from first-team coaches Paul Nevin and Kevin Nolan. There was a moment when the right-back was tackled from behind by Vardy which incensed the bench. Perhaps that was Vardy’s way of welcoming him to the Premier League, but whether it was drawing a foul from Harvey Barnes, tracking James Justin’s run, or brilliant covering in defence, Coufal became more confident as the game wore on.
“I will do everything so that West Ham will be successful,” said Coufal when his move to West Ham was confirmed, and that was evident moments after the interval when he made an advancing run and floated in a cross towards Antonio at the back post, but his leaping header was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
“I think the West Ham fans will love Vladimir and he will feel connected to them,” Soucek said. “His style of play is very fast and intense and he will give 100 per cent every single minute for this club.
“I am looking forward to seeing him play for West Ham, because I think he has all of the qualities that are needed to play in the Premier League — he is very strong, plays with intensity and is very consistent. He also likes to run a lot, like me, because he is up and down on the right side, maybe 11-12 kilometres minimum every match. He is a very modern right-back.”
⚽ Antonio (14)
⚽ Fornals (34)
⚽ Bowen (83)Report and free match highlights as #WHUFC continue to impress with David Moyes working from home… 🏠
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 4, 2020
Soucek has been a great signing for West Ham and Coufal aspires to have a similar impact. In his first 48 hours, he helped play a key role in West Ham keeping a clean sheet and nullifying the threat of Vardy and co.
It is a promising debut and another example why Moyes has been keen to sign players who will have an immediate impact, as opposed to squad players who would most likely occupy a place on the bench.
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Usually around this time of year, West Ham’s poor form means the players often look forward to an international break. But it has arguably come at the wrong time for Moyes’s side. This is a new and improved team and, having kept Jimenez and Vardy quiet over the past two weeks, the defence will aim to pick up where they left off and subject Harry Kane to a miserable afternoon in their next league game against Tottenham Hotspur.
(Photo: Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
