This weeks Stats Don’t Lie is a prime example of how a team can dominate pretty much every attacking football statistic in a match, but not go and win the game.
13 chances created to 6.
66% possession.
406 passes to 153.
120 attacking passes to 82.
18 shots to 12.
The list goes on.
West Ham dominated Crystal Palace, and even with 10 men they were still looking to win the game. This appears to be a trend this season. West Ham are beginning to look like a top team in the way that they dominate the opposition. Even though Crystal Palace are completely lacking form at the moment, they would consider themselves a passing team who like to keep the ball with Cabaye in midfield, but West Ham are proving themselves to be a top team with the ball, it’s just a shame that on Saturday we weren’t so good without it.
2 defensive errors leading to both of Crystal Palace’s goals tells the story of this match. It happens throughout a season, a defence and goalkeeper that have performed as admirably as ours have this season will eventually make an uncharacteristic error or two and unfortunately both of them cost us the win. Adrian so rarely makes errors as he oozes confidence, but we had enough chances and enough of the ball to win the game long before Palace’s equaliser.
We had no other defensive errors that lead to a shot, so two errors two goals. Although there is no denying the defence looked shakier than usual, hopefully Bilic can address this issue in the week and make sure we are looking solid again next week. Clean sheets against Tottenham and Manchester City justify a generally sturdy back four and goalkeeper, so West Ham need a re-occurrence of that solidity if we are to push on.
One aspect of the game that will encourage West Ham fans is the performance of Manuel Lanzini. Lanzini was looking back to his best after his injury.
He made 66 successful passes out of 73 and created 5 chances, more than Payet’s 4.The Argentine was also involved in 6 out of the top 8 pass combinations in the match. Usually Payet tops the chart in pass combinations, as the players seek him out to make something happen. Clearly Lanzini is another player that can be relied on to create chances and score as well, so playing as the most advanced in a midfield three suits him.
In terms of our top four chances statistically, we are 3 points below Manchester City and two behind Manchester United who were fortunate to win against Everton on Sunday. Those extra two points dropped against Crystal Palace could be the difference at the end of the season. Our goal difference doesn’t help as City are well ahead in terms of goals scored, so their goal difference is 12 better than ours at the moment.
With 7 games left, the Arsenal match at The Boleyn Ground this weekend seems like a must win. We last did the double over Arsenal in 2006/07 with two 1-0 wins. The goals were scored by Marlon Harewood and then Bobby Zamora whose winner made us the first team to beat Arsenal at The Emirates.
I haven’t mentioned the referee, but statistically speaking there’s no doubt he had a shocker. Kouyate could have his second red card of the season rescinded after his Blackburn red, which would be a first for the club during a season.
