West Ham put themselves within touching distance of qualification for next season’s Europa League after a 3-1 victory at West Brom.
Tottenham’s defeat earlier in the day had given David Moyes’ side the opportunity to take a giant stride towards European qualification, and they had the chance to take an early lead after Michail Antonio had been felled by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in the penalty area in the first minute.
However, Declan Ride’s penalty struck the woodwork and the Hammers task was made harder when Matheus Pereira’s corner crept in after a touch from Tomas Soucek.
Soucek atoned for his error, scoring the equaliser just before half-time and the comeback was complete when Angelo Ogbonna headed home in the 82nd minute before Antonio (88) added the gloss to what was a big night for West Ham as they put themselves in pole position to reach the Europa League.
Victory sees the Hammers move up into sixth, three points ahead of Tottenham and Everton with just one game left to play. They play Southampton on the final day on Sunday and a point would see them secure European football for the first time since 2016.
Meanwhile, West Brom’s defeat proved to be Sam Allardyce’s final game at The Hawthorns as it was announced straight after the match he will step down from his post as the club’s head coach at the end of the season.
More to follow…
The Premier League table…
Opta stats – Penalty woe can’t stop West Ham
- West Ham’s Declan Rice failed to convert a penalty after only 2 minutes and 4 seconds, the earliest missed penalty in Premier League history, surpassing Niko Kranjcar’s failed effort after 4 minutes and 19 seconds for Portsmouth in January 2008.
- West Ham have failed to score four of their last eight penalties in the Premier League that weren’t taken by Mark Noble, while Noble has converted each of his last 10 in the competition.
- West Brom conceded 39 goals at home in league competition this season, their worst defensive performance at home in a single league campaign.
- West Ham boss David Moyes has now won each of the last eight Premier League meetings between himself and Sam Allardyce – Moyes had won seven of his 16 such matches against Allardyce prior to this run (D3 L6).
- When converting to three-points-per-win all-time, only in 1890-91 (10) and 2002-03 (14) have West Brom earned fewer points at home than this season (15).
What’s next?
West Ham’s final Premier League game of the season is against Southampton at the London Stadium at 4pm on Sunday.
West Brom finish their Premier League campaign away at Leeds at 4pm on Sunday.
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