West Ham wins, put pressure on Chelsea for the Champions League

West Ham are still in the race for the Champions League spot. The Hammers managed to win in Burnley thanks to two quick goals from Michail Antonio and are again in the fifth spot, just three points from rivals Chelsea and the last Champions League place.

Hammers striker came back from injury and should have scored at least two more goals, but in the end he stopped at number two, which was enough to snap a two game loosing streak from the visitors. It was an interesting game with lots of chances, something we didn’t used to when it comes to Burnley, but the Clarets also had their opportunities. However, after this display from West Ham it would have been injustice for the Londoners if the game was ended without a winner.

Burnley started with the same team that beat Wolves 4-0 last time out, while West Ham have made five changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Chelsea, and the most important of them all was the striker Michail Antonio, who returned from injury, to take the burdain off from Lingard. And he did, but it didn’t started that way. After an opening initiative from The Hammers, Burney were awarded the penalty in the 19th minute. Again it was a great Chris Wood, who scored a hat-trick against Wolves last week who created a great chance for himself and got the penalty kick after a clumsy challenge from Soucek. Wood has scored more Premier League goals against West Ham than he has against any other side (6 goals in 7 games) and he added another one: 1-0 Burnley.

But as soon as the ball went from the center, Hammers equalized. And it was Antonio, who once again prooved how important is he for the Hammers. First he scored in the 21st minute from the goal area after a great cross from Coufal on the right, and then he scored again after eight minutes, with a similar goal, but with Benrahma providing the assist this time from the left. West Ham continued to press and the Algerian internatonal Benrahma caused havoc every time he came from the left wing, but both he and Antonio missed one chance apiece.

The second half was pretty much the same, it was all about West Ham. Antonio again missed his chance, and all could Burnley managed was a superb chance from Jay Rodriguez, who had three consecutive shots inside on the goal. His first shot was saved by Fabianski, but the ball bounced of to Rodriguez again, but his second shot was blocked by Coufal, and the third time he missed the whole goal.

After failing to use any of those chances in the second half, West Ham came into the last ten minutes rather nervous, and Lingard came close to scoring in the 90th minute, but Pope saved. With this win, West Ham are in contention for the Champions League spot, while Burnley remains 9 points clear from almost relegated Fulham.

PREMIER LEAGUE - Round 34

Friday

Southampton - Leicester City 1-1 (0-0)

/Ward-Prowse 61 - Evans 69/ 

Saturday

Crystal Palace - Manchester City 0-2 (0-0)

/Aguero 58, Torres 59/

Brighton & Hove Albion - Leeds United 2-0 (1-0)

/Gross 14 pen, Welbeck 79/

Chelsea - Fulham 2-0 (1-0)

/Havertz 10,49/

Everton - Aston Villa 1-2 (1-1)

/Calvert-Lewin 19' - Watkins 13', El Ghazi 80'/

Sunday

Newcastle United - Arsenal 0-2 (0-1)

/Elneny 5', Aubameyang 66'/

18.30: Manchester United – Liverpool – postponed

Tottenham Hotspur - Sheffield United 4-0 (1-0)

/Bale, 36, 61, 69, Son 77/ 

Monday

West Bromwich Albion - Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 (0-1)

/Diagne 62 - Silva 45+2/

Burnley - West Ham United 1-2 (1-2)

/ Wood 19 (p) – Antonio 21, 29/