While Nuno Espirito Santo’s post-match comments are yet to be revealed at the time of writing, do not be surprised if the West Ham United boss shares the frustration felt by his opposite number, Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola.
Saturday’s matchday twelve clash at the Vitality Stadium saw West Ham race into a 2-0 first-half lead, only to board the bus home patting their goalkeeper on the back and thanking him for salvaging a pretty fortuitous point.
West Ham United really should not have allowed that Callum Wilson-inspired lead to slip so dramatically.
But, on the other hand, that they escaped the South Coast with a 2-2 draw against a side who mustered seven times the amount of attempts is testament to the resilience Nuno has instilled in this team.
Andoni Iraola praised Nuno’s impact pre-match. The Hammers, he said, are a far more organised, well-drilled outfit now than they were a month ago. Despite conceding twice and relying on some last-gasp heroics, this was another valiant, if not faultless, defensive display.
Despite the best efforts of full debutant Igor Julio, the excellent Aaron Wan-Bissaka, an industrious Freddie Potts and a supreme Jean-Clair Todibo – the Frenchman arguably produced his best West Ham display away to Bournemouth – all of Wilson’s hard work would have counted for nothing if not for an exceptional Alphonse Areola.
Andoni Iraola rues Alphonse Areola brilliance as West Ham United survive Bournemouth onslaught
Areola assisted Wilson’s opener, the first West Ham goalkeeper to provide a Premier League assist since Jussi Jaskelainen 11 years earlier.
84 minutes, eight stops and one potential Save of the Season contender later, Iraola found himself not only ruing the chances Bournemouth missed but the sublime reflexes of the man who helped West Ham leapfrog Burnley into 17th.
“I think we have done everything to get the win,” Iraola told BBC Sport. “After the goals we conceded, the second half was very good.
“Areola was incredible. Now, it is not a good result. We deserved more but we have to look at what we did wrong at the beginning of the game. It is frustrating for us.”
Bournemouth recorded an ‘expected goals’ tally of 4.39, compared to West Ham’s 0.73.
Of course, Bournemouth’s XG tally is inflated by the penalty converted by Marcus Tavernier before Enes Unal’s smart equaliser. But that they also scored only twice from an XG of double that is testament to Areola’s heroics.
In stark contrast, Djordje Petrovic was left with his head in his hands as Wilson’s fizzing opener slipped through his grasp.
“[West Ham] benefited from our mistakes,” Iraola adds. “But I don’t think they created any other chances. We can’t concede, and the way we conceded was too simple.”
Iraola says Max Kilman should have been sent off at the Vitality Stadium
The former Rayo Vallecano coach would then turn his frustration towards referee Tom Bramall.
How Max Kilman avoided a red card when sliding across and flicking the ball away from a Bournemouth forward with his hand, Iraola will never understand.
“They told me that it is not a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity,” he fumes. “But I can’t see a clearer one, in the six-yard box. Some of these decisions you see sides, but this one I see no elements. I don’t understand it.
“It is not a good result for us. We have made mistakes and we cannot concede two goals that we conceded in the first half.
“Overall, we were much better and had so many chances and also I have to complain about the penalty. It is a clear red card. I don’t understand the decision but we have to analyse our mistakes. They should have played 30 minutes with 10 players.”
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