West Ham United vs Burnley. Premier League.
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Report and free match highlights from the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham and Burnley at the London Stadium | Second-half goals from Lucas Paqueta and Danny Ings earn David Moyes' men point
Sunday 10 March 2024 19:11, UK
Danny Ings salvaged a point for West Ham, minutes after being denied an equaliser by VAR, in an entertaining 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Burnley.
David Datro Fofana's thunderbolt rewarded the Clarets' enterprising start in east London, and it was two by the break when Konstantinos Mavropanos' own goal capped a woeful display from the Hammers.
David Moyes' side came back out reinvigorated and halved the deficit within seconds of the restart thanks to Lucas Paqueta's composed finish, which seemed as though it would spark a comeback.
It was not until the 86th minute that signs of that comeback came, when Ings came off the bench to find the net, only for a VAR review to disallow the goal after Michail Antonio had strayed offside in the build-up.
But the striker found himself on the scoresheet in the 91st minute, after controlling a cross and firing past James Trafford, breaking the hearts of Burnley, who had looked on course for a first win since December 23.
The Clarets do move off the bottom of the table, above Sheffield United into 19th, but still 10 points from safety with 10 games to play. West Ham stay seventh, four points behind Manchester United.
In his programme notes, Hammers boss David Moyes talked about hoping his side were over their sticky patch after two straight wins - but it was soon clear Burnley were out to ensure that would not be the case.
The hosts started slow and, before long, were punished. The Clarets - bottom of the table, but not yet down and out - struck the opener 11 minutes in, when Fofana skipped past two challenges and unleashed an unstoppable dipping shot in from 25 yards.
Burnley came to east London to frustrate. Goalkeeper James Trafford's timewasting efforts brought jeers from all around the stadium, while there were groans when Hammers struggled to break into the final third. The plan worked to great effect.
It got worse On the stroke of half-time when Mavropanos diverted Josh Cullen's cross into the back of his own net, leading to a chorus of boos when the whistle was blown.
After two changes - Michail Antonio and Edson Alvarez on for Kalvin Phillips and James Ward-Prowse - as well as, undoubtedly, a few stern words from Moyes at the break, West Ham looked invigorated and pulled one back when Paqueta strolled through on goal and rolled home seconds after the restart.
Chances started to flow thereafter, but Trafford was seldom tested and, as time ticked by, the chances of the equaliser they craved slimmed. Ings' introduction changed that.
He got on the end of Antonio's chested pass and lifted a shot into the net, only for celebrations to be quietened by a VAR review that showed the former was offside when he did so, but had the final say with a clinical finish in the first minute of eight added on.
There was even time for Ings to hit the crossbar and Alphonse Areola to save from Josh Brownhill, with a penalty appeal after an apparent handball from Sander Berge turned down as the game ended all square.
West Ham manager David Moyes:
"We looked as though we were still hungover from the game on Thursday night [in the first half]. We didn't start fast and we got punished. I think the second goal a few minutes before half-time was a real blow but, nevertheless, they fought incredibly hard to get back into the game and probably made enough chances to win.
"I've got to say, the decisions today went so badly against us. There's the offside for the goal and one in the first half where the linesman puts his flag up when Jarrod Bowen is onside. The rules are that he has got to be sure he's offside - he doesn't. He puts his flag up right away. I've seen it and he's onside.
"Then we've got Sander Berge, who heads the ball - or tries to head the ball - in front and it hits his arms. We had a situation not unlike this in midweek. What we've got to do is make sure that we don't need to throw the ball in the box; we've got to finish and make sure we play better.
"Now and again, you need things in football matches to go for you. We had a result against Everton where things went for us. Football's like that. Today, I just thought the small margins didn't go [for us]. That's no excuse for how we started the game or how we played in the first half, but I couldn't fault the players for what they've done. In fact, I'd praise them for how much they've done in the second half."
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany:
"If I focus just on, not so much the manner, but the timing of the two goals then they are two frustrating events in the game, one so shortly after the second half started and then the other at the very, very end of the game.
"It was a game of duels, fighting; it was a game of stopping crosses, heading crosses and it was a game of some very, very good periods for us, especially in the first half. In the second half, I think it was more about still being dangerous despite having to defend more and, with the chance at the end, you could see we were still dangerous.
"Was the team alive? Yes. Did the team fight? Yes. I want to take that into the next game and nothing else.
"We were playing against a good side. If Kudus decides he wants to take people on, it changes the game. If Paqueta wants to get on the ball, it changes the game. We can't ever have the arrogance to come to places like this and not realise they are players who can do that. Then it's what you bring up against it.
"If, at the end, we come away with a result, you would call it a fairly mature performance; first half you are at your best and second half, when they start coming, you hold the result."
West Ham host SC Freiburg in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday March 14. Kick-off 5.45pm. Aston Villa visit the London Stadium three days later on Sunday March 17. Kick-off 2pm.
Burnley are back in Premier League action on Saturday March 16 at home to Brentford. Kick-off 3pm.
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