After a busy Saturday of action across the continent, it’s time to check in with our Hammer loanees at their respective Clubs, as things went from bad to worse for Reece Burke and Josh Cullen, Robert Snodgrass’s fortunes were quite the opposite and Reece Oxford’s Borussia Monchengladbach were hit for six by Dortmund.
Reece Burke and Josh Cullen (Bolton Wanderers)
Bolton’s Championship despair continued yesterday afternoon as they were overcome by a strong Bees Side, as the visitors registered their first points of the season at The Macron Stadium.
Phil Parkinson’s men are now on a torrid run of five consecutive League defeats and to add to the woes, Parkinson is now faced with rumors of his sacking just months after he guided The Trotters to Promotion.
As for Burke and Cullen, despite their best starting efforts yet again in The North, they couldn’t prevent goals from Yoann Barbet, Nico Yennaris, and Ollie Watkins as Brentford sealed the deal in the second-half.
Furthermore, Wanderers are still without a League victory for the whole campaign and look doomed to be one of three Relegated Teams already.
In yesterday’s clash, Cullen, the former Bradford City Player of the Year, played for the whole 90 minutes, but Burke was hauled off early in the second period and replaced by Craig Noone as the hosts went in search of a route back into the Game.
Next up for The Trotters will be a trip to Ashton Gate on Tuesday night before facing off with Aston Villa at Villa Park next weekend, can Burke and Cullen turn the Bolton tide?
Robert Snodgrass (Aston Villa)
Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass continued to impress in The Midlands under Steve Bruce yesterday, as his Villa side claimed a fortunate victory over Nottingham Forest.
Snodgrass featured for 88 minutes of the fixture at Villa Park, being replaced by Alan Hutton to preserve the slim lead.
The home Side had taken the lead early on through Albert Adomah before Daryl Murphy leveled things up for the visitors.
Conor Hourihane proved to be the difference in the end for Villa, as Snodgrass continued his unbeaten run at a different Claret & Blue Club, Bruce’s men will go toe to toe with Burton Albion in two days’ time.
Reece Oxford (Borussia Monchengladbach)
The theme of frustration for our younger loanees also applied in Germany this weekend.
Not only did Reece Oxford see his Gladbach side get thumped by Borussia Dortmund to the tune of 6-1, he was forced to watch the whole thing unfold from the bench yet again.
The 18-year-old defender is still without a competitive debut under Dieter Hecking. However, the one encouragement for the starlet will be the likelihood of dropped defenders after such a dismal defensive display.
Oxford will find out whether or not he has earned the right to replace one of those defensive options in the First-Team on Saturday when Die Fohlen host Hannover 96.
So, after what was mainly a weekend to forget from the loan players of West Ham United, will we see an improvement when we catch back up next week?