Sakho the hero as West Ham beat Swansea to hand Bilic a lifeline
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Updated 30/09/2017 at 17:00 GMT
Premier League, London Stadium – West Ham United 1 (Sakho 90’) Swansea City 0
Diafra Sakho (2nd R) of West Ham United celebrates scoring the opening goal with his team mates during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at London Stadium on September 30, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Diafra Sakho came off the bench to score a 90th minute winner to give West Ham a 1-0 win over Swansea City and ease the pressure on manager Slaven Bilic.
The Hammers boss recalled Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew to the starting line-up but they looked devoid of confidence and ideas in the first period.
Paul Clement’s side dominated possession but carved out few chances with Renato Sanches looking below-par. And the Bayern Munich loanee was lucky to stay on the field after being booked for a reckless challenge on Aaron Cresswell.
The second half was a similar pattern with a lack of chances at both ends despite the introduction of Manuel Lanzini following an injury-layoff while the visitors brought on Leroy Fer.
Carroll rattled the crossbar in the closing stages but substitutes Arthur Masuaku and Sakho made the difference and they combined with the latter sliding in to score in the dying seconds.
West Ham’s second win of the season puts them in 15th place, while the Welsh side slip to 18th position.
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Diafra Sakho of West Ham United scores the opening goal past Lukasz Fabianski of Swansea City during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at London Stadium on September 30, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
What has happened to Renato Sanches? Eighteen months ago he was billed as one of the brightest talents in Europe and had a queue of clubs after him. But he has failed to impress so far since joining Swansea on loan from Bayern Munich and was off the pace again today after being recalled to the side. His passing and set-pieces were poor and he gave the ball away in the build-up to the Hammers’ winning goal.
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Renato Sanches of Swansea City is tackled by Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Swansea City at London Stadium on September 30, 2017 in London, England
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City): In a game of few standout performers, the Swans goalkeeper produced a fine save to keep out Michel Antonio’s volley. He also showed his bravery by catching a cross on the edge of his area before being accidentally clattered by Andy Carroll.
PLAYER RATINGS
WEST HAM: Hart 6, Zabaleta 5, Reid 6, Fonte 6, Creswell 6, Kouyate 5, Noble 4, Antonio 7, Ayew 5, Hernandez 4, Carroll 6. Subs: Lanzini 5, Sakho 7, Masuaku 7
SWANSEA CITY: Fabianski 8, Naughton 5, Fernandez 6, Mawson 6, Olsson 6, Britton 5, Sanches 3, Carroll 5, Ayew 5, Bony 4, Abraham 4. Subs: Fer 5, Mesa 5, Clucas n/a
KEY MOMENTS:
4’ - CLOSE! Ayew fires in a low cross for Carroll but Mawson heads it clear. The ball is played back in by Ayew for Antonio whose volley is brilliantly palmed away by Fabianski.
14’ - GOOD SAVE! Bony unleashes a drive from 25 yards which Hart does well to parry.
37’ - CHANCE! Carroll turns provider and sends in a cross for Ayew whose flicked header is comfortably saved by Fabianski.
74’ - CLOSE! Fer finds Olsson who lashes a shot across goal which has hart scrambling across and it goes around six inches wide.
84’ - WOODWORK! Carroll rattles the bar with a first-time half-volley from Masuaku's low cross. Fabianski was beaten.
90’ - GOAL FOR WEST HAM! Sakho scores at the back post from Masuaku's brilliant cross. The substitute puts it into the roof of the net!
KEY STATS
West Ham have only lost one of their last ten Premier League games against Swansea.
Swansea have never kept an away clean sheet at West Ham, conceding 75 goals in 32 games in all competitions.
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