NEWSNOWIf last week felt like a win, then this week feels like a defeat
Twice in a month the Irons have squandered a half time lead against 10 men. Once is careless, twice………
The performance against Sunderland was particularly worrying in terms of the second half showing which appeared to lack ambition and made a mockery of the manager’s reputation as a former flare player. Flare player maybe. Cautious manager – evidently.
I am sure that many Hammers will have questioned the wisdom of including the predictable Noble and Kovac in the starting midfield and leaving the enigmatic Diamanti on the bench. Hines’ omission from the starting 11 is somewhat more understandable and Franco justified his selection with the first goal, admittedly.
The first half perfomance was creditable. After half time, it verged on the woeful. We looked shaky at the back against the 10 man black cats and, when the substitution did arrive it inexplicably saw the withdrawal of the menacing Behrami in favour of Diamanti. Surely, Kovac should have made way – particularly since he was carrying a yellow card and eventually got sent off, albeit harshly in my view.
With Pompey rattling in 4 this was a game that we needed to win and, whilst a point would have been acceptable before kick off, at the end of the match it feels like a major setback.
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