Felipe Anderson inspires great win for West Ham over Burnley

West Ham 4-2 Burnley

West Ham ran out rightful winners of this highly entertaining game, though they could easily have scored another four or five.

The home side totally dominated the first half, going one up on 10 minutes when Marko Arnautovic dispossessed James Tarkowski, moving on to drive the ball under Joe Hart.

Hart was to have a busy afternoon, pulling off a string of fine saves, including one at the feet of Felipe Anderson, after he had played a one two with Arnautovic.

Anderson hit another curling shot on the half hour, which was headed out from under the bar.

Referee Roger East had a strange game, failing to award two blatant penalties to West Ham or punish Ben Mee when he clattered into the back of Pedro Obiang in the opening minutes of the game.

Even Burnley manager Sean Dyche agreed that Grady Diangana was upended for a penaltyin the first half, which East failed to award.

Dyche suggested if the player had dived he may have got the penalty but because he didn’t he lost out.

Burnley stunned the home side a minute before half time, when West Ham failed to clear their lines. Ashley Westwood put in Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who finished with ease.

Two minutes into the second half Hart pushed aside a thunderbolt form Obiang.

West Ham were not to be denied, though, with the reborn Anderson finishing off a slick passing move, involving Arnautovic and Diangana,   

Burnley though struck back again, when substitute Chris Wood rose to head a corner into the home net.

Diangana, Arnautovic and Anderson then combined again but the latter saw his effort bounce off the post. A few minutes later, the same combination saw the ball fall to Anderson who this time finished easily.

Woods missed a replica header to his first, whilst Anderson caught a free kick from Robert Snodgrass full on the volley but unfortunately it went straight to Hart.

West Ham were not finished though, with Anderson striking a long ball across to Michail Antonio, who chested the ball on for Javier Hernandez, who scored his first goal of the campaign.

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini felt his team could have had four more goals.

He praised Anderson for his performance. “We know what Felipe can do, his commitment is 100%, he was not happy with his performances. This though was a massive performance,” said Pellegrini.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche picked up on the subject of players winning penalties and other rewards by diving, whilst the honest players get penalised. “What your not getting now is the actual fouls, all the rolling around,” said Dyche, who admitted Burnley had hit a sticky patch and there is work to do. “We’re not far off, we’ve got to keep working.”


published - Morning Star - 4/11/2018