West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth: James Ward-Prowse penalty cancels out Dominic Solanke opener as points shared
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Updated 01/02/2024 at 22:56 GMT
West Ham missed the chance to close the gap on the top five in the Premier League after they were held 1-1 at the London Stadium by Bournemouth. The in-form Dominic Solanke gave the Cherries the lead after a mistake from new Hammers loan signing Kalvin Phillips, but James Ward-Prowse levelled from the spot in the second half after the VAR deemed Lloyd Kelly's challenge on Mohammed Kudus illegal.
James Ward Prowse celebrates his equaliser for West Ham against Bournemouth
Image credit: Getty Images
West Ham and Bournemouth shared the spoils in an edgy 1-1 encounter that saw Kalvin Phillips get his Hammers career off to the worst possible start.
Dealing with an underhit pass from Kurt Zouma on his first Premier League start since May 2023, that lack of gametime showed as Phillips attempted to play it back to his keeper rather than hammering it clear, but the ball fell to Dominic Solanke who slotted home into an empty net with just three minutes on the clock.
It was contrasting starts for the England hopefuls with assistant manager Steve Holland in attendance, with Solanke up to 13 goals for the season behind only Erling Haaland and Mohammed Salah, and Bournemouth stayed on the front foot for much of the first half.
But after Antoine Semenyo missed a golden chance to double his side’s lead before half-time, David Moyes’ team-talk appeared to pay dividends, with the Hammers’ second-half positivity rewarded just before the hour mark.
Freshly back from the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohammed Kudus was the hosts’ main attacking outlet all game and was brought down for a penalty by Lloyd Kelly, that James Ward-Prowse coolly sent down the middle to earn his side a point.
It was probably a fair result in a game of few chances for either side, though Adoni Iraola will be frustrated his side didn’t build more of a cushion when they were in the ascendancy in the first half.
However, the hosts ended the first half looking the better team and though Kudus was well-marshalled for much of the game with Bournemouth often doubling up on the Ghanaian, it was only a matter of time before he broke through.
Kelly’s challenge on him wasn’t initially given by the referee but the inevitable VAR check overturned the decision, and neither side really went close to a winner in the closing stages.
With the hours winding down before the transfer window slams shut, Pablo Fornals was in attendance amid rumours that he was on his way for Real Betis, but Keiffer Moore wasn’t in the Bournemouth squad as he heads to Ipswich on loan.
Talking point: Phillips sputters on debut
Phillips was at-best half-responsible for the opening goal of the game with captain Zouma sending a hospital pass his way, but it was still the worst possible start for the Hammers’ big January addition.
For a player short on confidence it appeared especially damaging and he was dispossessed a couple of times immediately afterwards while also conceding an unnecessary foul. The book is hardly written on Phillips’ West Ham career and he did improve before being withdrawn with 20 minutes to go, but he’ll hope for better over the rest of the season.
West Ham effectively started with four central midfielders as Lucas Paqueta remains sidelined and looked blunt in attack for much of the game, but their defence did at least solidify after a shaky start and limited Solanke’s opportunities after his opener.
Player of the match: Alphonse Areola
Ryan Christie was superb for Bournemouth, it was his pressure on Phillips that led to the mistake and he repeated that trick several times throughout the game as a constant menace in midfield.
But saving two goals is better than creating one and Alphonse Areola was a giant between the sticks for West Ham. Blameless for the Solanke goal, he went on to deny Semenyo twice - rushing out to close down a gilt-edged one-on-one before stopping his well-hit shot with a superb reaction save.
And just before half-time, he followed that up with another game-changing reflex save, tipping Semenyo’s dipping deflected shot over the crossbar with his fingertips.
Player ratings
West Ham: Areola 8, Johnson 7, Mavropanos 5, Zouma 5, Emerson 6, Alvarez 6, Phillips 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Soucek 6, Kudus 7, Bowen 6. Subs: Ings 6, Cornet 6.
Bournemouth: Neto 6, Smith 7, Zabarnyi 6, Senesi 6, Kelly 6, Cook 5, Christie 8, Semenyo 7, Scott 6, Tavernier 6, Solanke 7. Subs: Kerkez 6, Faivre 6, Sinisterra 6, Kluivert 7.
Match highlights
2’ - GOAL SOLANKE... DISALLOWED? Solanke has the ball in the net! Phillips played it back to Zouma who then sent an underhit ball back the debutant. Phillips got a foot to it but Solanke pounced and slid his shot past Areola, it's going to be given surely...
3’ - GOAL! WEST HAM 0-1 BOURNEMOUTH (SOLANKE): And VAR has given it! That's a nightmare start for Phillips, perhaps unsurprisingly for a player who last started in the league in May 2023, but he'll need to shake that off quickly. Also credit to Ryan Christie for harrying the England man, Zouma must take some responsibility for that goal too.
35’ - HUGE CHANCE: That HAD to go in! Christie again closed down a poor West Ham pass and fed Solanke, who shuffled it on to Semenyo on the right. It was a golden chance but Semenyo took too much time on the shot, allowing Areola to sprint out and produce a stunning save at full stretch to keep it 1-0.
58’ - PENALTY! VAR are taking a look. It's one of the first times Kudus has broken into the box with the ball at his feet and Lloyd Kelly was always struggling to catch up before he appears to drag the Ghanaian down. Moyes is furious that it's not been awarded already... But it's been given on review! That's not far away from a stonewall decision really, Kelly was all over Kudus and nowhere near the ball.
60’ - GOAL! WEST HAM 1-1 BOURNEMOUTH (WARD-PROWSE): James Ward-Prowse doesn't make many set-piece mistakes, and wasn't about to add another there. He slams it straight down the middle on the floor as Neto flings himself right, the captain almost gets his foot to it but is inches away and it's all square!
Key stats
West Ham had 86% possession in the last five minutes of the first half as they pushed for an equaliser.
Bournemouth’s wait for a win continues; they last tasted Premier League victory on Boxing Day.
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