West Ham United and AFC Bournemouth may be two of the Premier League’s form teams right now yet, as Nuno Espirito Santo and Andoni Iraola face off at the London Stadium, this is still a game which could be decided by an Achilles heel or a glass jaw.
West Ham United have conceded 13 set-piece goals this season.
Only two sides, Liverpool [14] and Bournemouth [16], have conceded more.
In some strangely twisted way, there will be plenty of Hammers fans who would have snatched your hand off for 13 set-piece concessions when offered such a tally at the end of October.
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When losing 2-1 at Leeds four months ago, the Londoners had let in nine set-piece goals in their first nine games of the campaign.
This means, for all you non-mathematicians out there, only four more have arrived in the following 15.
Nuno Espirito Santo has dedicated hours of work at Rush Green to solving an issue which looked destined to result in relegation. That work, it appears, is paying off.
By his own admission, though, AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is yet to find a solution of his own. So, after Axel Disasi spoke about his desire to mark his new claret and blue jersey with a goal – the Frenchman is striving for survival but has a few personal ambitions to chase as well – the visit of Iraola’s occasionally free-flowing but defensively-flawed Cherries outfit offers the ideal opportunity to open his account.
Axel Disasi may have his best chance to score a West Ham United goal vs AFC Bournemouth
None of West Ham’s centre-backs have scored a goal this term. Jean-Clair Todibo has come as close as anyone; his shot deflecting off the post seconds before disaster at Stamford Bridge. Konstantinos Mavropanos had four shots without finding the net against Burton Albion in the FA Cup.
Disasi, though, boasts a respectable goalscoring record from defence. He is one shy of 25 club goals. The France international found the net no fewer than six times during his final season at Monaco, before that £38 million move to Chelsea in 2023.
Per Total Football Analysis, Disasi also ranks in the 98th percentile when it comes to winning aerial duels. His 6ft 3ins frame, up against a Bournemouth side lacking the defensive giants of last season in Ilya Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen, has the potential to wreak havoc in the visiting penalty area.
“We know we are not the tallest team and it’s happening we are conceding set-piece goals,” Iraola said after Liverpool scored from both a free-kick and a corner against Bournemouth in January’s dramatic 3-2 win.
“We are trying to balance it but I’d like to start conceding less set plays as, defensively [in open play], we have been very good.”
Callum Wilson scored a set-piece goal against the Cherries in November
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In their last meeting at the Vitality Stadium in November, the ‘magnificent’ Callum Wilson put on a finishing masterclass with two precise first-half finishes. His second of the day came, much to Iraola’s frustration, from a Hammers free-kick.
After only half-clearing the first ball, Jarrod Bowen and then Jean-Clair Todibo combined to flick the ball into Wilson’s path. He turned Tyler Adams easily and flicked his volley into the top corner.
“It’s costing us a lot,” Iraola said after Burnley exposed Bournemouth’s weaknesses once again a few weeks after that most typical ‘game of two halves’ against the Hammers.
“A set-piece goal is something that you can defend better. It’s true that we know. We’ve spoken here a lot of times. We’re not the tallest team, we have difficult match-ups and it’s costing us a lot.”
Disasi is desperate to score before his West Ham loan ends
Speaking on the Ironcast podcast this week, Disasi joked that he will be asking Nuno to let him engage his inner-penalty box poacher when a ball comes swinging in from the corner flag. Though with Soucek and the colossus that is Mavropanos likely to be joining him in a crowded box, Disasi may have to remain content with doing the unselfish stuff.
“I hope to get some goals! At the moment, I’m a little frustrated because I’m doing a lot of blocking during set pieces,” Disasi laughs, as likeable in interviews as he is imposing in the penalty area. “But I need to get some goals myself!
“Honestly, I’m calm and happy to be here.
“So far, it’s been really nice. As you know, my situation before was a little bit crazy so, for me, it is only positive to be here. It feels great to be part of something and to be in the group. The way the staff and the team have welcomed me… honestly, thank you to everyone.
“I feel I am in the right place. It feels like a family, and I love feeling that. Honestly, I’m good.”
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