West Ham fans are once again feeling conflicted after watching their team play out a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
While there were improvements in West Ham’s performance, this was another fortunate result.
The Cherries absolutely peppered West Ham’s goal, especially in the second half.
The fact 39-year-old Lukasz Fabianski was man of the match says everything.
A very fortunate penalty awarded by VAR gifted West Ham a 1-0 lead in the 87th minute, massively against the run of play.
Yet Julen Lopetegui’s side still couldn’t hold on for a win which would have put them just three points behind the Cherries.
Before the game it was highlighted that West Ham could yet get themselves back in the hunt for a European place with a victory.
That was the task handed to Lopetegui when he was appointed.
It is even built into his two-year contract that a third year will be automatically added if West Ham qualify for any UEFA competition.
The Hammers had to win, though, to have any realistic hope of getting back into the mix.
So conceding moments after taking the lead probably puts paid to any hopes of returning to Europe.
West Ham now seem destined for a season of midtable mediocrity at best.
Baffled Carragher slams ‘daft’ West Ham player
The frustration is that while elements of West Ham’s play were better, against a more clinical side the Hammers would have been beaten out of sight.
On the flip side, had the Hammers just held on, back-to-back wins – albeit extremely fortunate ones – may have done wonders for the team and manager.
West Ham give up shots at their goal like no other team in the top flight, though.
It is so easy to get through West Ham and that’s why so many supporters still want the manager sacked.
On this occasion, though, there was only one man to blame for two points dropped late on.
That’s according to a baffled Jamie Carragher who has slammed a ‘daft’ West Ham player who spoiled a top result.
Lopetegui has fallen out with a host of stars including Jean-Clair Todibo, who was out of the squad at Bournemouth.
The official line is that Todibo has a sore toe.
In his place was Konstantinos Mavropanos.
The big Greek should have all the attributes to be a top centre-back and Hammers cult hero.
But he makes at least on big mistake a game.
Against Wolves, Mavropanos gave away what should have been a stonewall penalty.
He also clumsily fouled a Wolves player up the other end which should have seen Jarrod Bowen’s brilliant late winner ruled out too.
Mavropanos got away with those.
‘Ridiculous’ Mavropanos spoiled top results says Carragher
He didn’t get away with his usual rash decision making at the Vitality, though.
The defender brainlessly charged into the back of a Bournemouth forward minutes after West Ham had taken the lead.
The Cherries equalised from the resulting free-kick.
And Carragher says Mavropanos is entirely to blame.
“It’s just a daft foul,” Carragher said on Sky Sports about Mavropanos’ challenge on the goalscorer Enes Unal.
“I mean what are you trying to do getting the ball.
“He’s (Unal) got his back to play, he’s going nowhere.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous to give a foul away there in such a vital situation.
“Sometimes listen you get a goal, everyone gets a bit excited, you know it’s going late into the game and your emotions just run away with you a little bit.”
Carragher went on to say a win would have been a magnificent result for West Ham to signify a turnaround under Lopetegui.
As things stand, while he thinks four points isn’t a bad return given where the Hammers were, he remains unconvinced.
Especially as Bournemouth had by far the better chances.
Mavropanos has been far too erratic and inconsistent since arriving from Stuttgart for £17.5m.
It piles even more pressure on Lopetegui to sort the Todibo situation out and fast.
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