West Ham players gestured to fans for what they chanted at struggling star Danny Ings in the draw with Sheffield United.
If you had told West Ham fans they would be coming away from the Sheffield United match singing the praises of Danny Ings after a man of the match display, you’d have been laughed out of town.
But that’s exactly what happened.
It looked like it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the Hammers faithful when it comes to misfit forward Ings at Bristol City in midweek.
Ings warm-up goals sarcastically cheered by some
After putting in another abject performance during West Ham’s embarrassing FA Cup defeat, Ings was jeered by angry fans as he ambled off with little urgency despite his team being 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go.
And the striker, whose face has not fit since his £15m move from Aston Villa a year ago, was subjected to some sarcastic jeering again at Sheffield United.
The players gestured to West Ham fans for what they chanted at struggling star Ings.
When Ings was warming up before the match at Bramall Lane, some – not all – supporters sarcastically celebrated each time he scored a goal in a shooting drill.
Striker put in best West Ham display yet
It was somewhat tongue-in-cheek but a touch self-defeating nonetheless.
Ings responded in the best possible way, though.
He put in his best West Ham performance yet with an excellent display in the number 10 role.
Yes the forward could and should have put the game to bed. But he did help create both of West Ham’s goals in the 2-2 draw.
First, after some neat footwork in the box, Ings’ shot deflected to Maxwel Cornet to smash home.
And he then jinked his way past Gustavo Hamer in the second half to win a penalty.
Players gestured to fans
West Ham fans, won over by their striker’s determined performance, chanted Ings’ name as their nomination to take the penalty. It was a show of support which also felt very much like an apology of sorts for the pre-match jibes.
James Ward-Prowse took the spot-kick, though, and stuck it away down the middle.
But it did not go unnoticed what some West Ham players did next.
Ward-Prowse, Pablo Fornals and others made a beeline for Ings and passionately pointed at the striker in the direction of the away fans as if to say ‘that’s thanks to him’.
You can see it on 28 seconds in the clip below.
Shortly afterwards Ings spurned a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 before being substituted.
And West Ham went on to draw 2-2 in a VAR-cical end to a match in which Ings was voted the best player on the pitch.
Fair play to Ings for his performance. It’s just a shame it was not rewarded with a victory.
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