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West Ham logo
Premier League | Gameweek 24
Feb 15, 2021 at 6pm UK
London Stadium
Sheffield United logo

West Ham
3 - 0
Sheff Utd

Rice (41' pen.), Diop (58'), Fredericks (90+6')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Basham (39'), Lundstram (87')

West Ham rise into top four after sweeping aside Sheffield United

The Hammers were comfortable winners, despite missing the injured Michail Antonio, and remain on course for an unlikely Champions League place.

West Ham made light of not having a recognised striker as they swatted aside Sheffield United at the London Stadium.

David Moyes' decision not to bring in a forward on deadline day looked set to come back to haunt him with Michail Antonio, his only senior frontman, ruled out injured.

But with Jesse Lingard providing the attacking menace, goals from Declan Rice, Issa Diop and Ryan Fredericks secured a 3-0 win and kept West Ham in the hunt for an unlikely Champions League place.

Hammers boss Moyes had last week bemoaned the fact his side were the only team in the Premier League to have not been awarded a penalty this season.

His prayers were almost answered after only five minutes when Craig Dawson, following up Rice's free-kick, was pushed over in the area by Enda Stevens.

Referee Simon Hooper awarded the spot-kick but VAR ruled that Dawson was offside when Rice struck his initial shot.

Moyes would not have to wait long for his penalty hoodoo to come to an end, however.

Lingard, back in the team after sitting out at Manchester United in the FA Cup under the terms of his loan deal, was getting a lot of joy in the inside-left position and twice forced good saves from Aaron Ramsdale.

And five minutes before half-time the former England winger dispossessed Oliver Norwood, raced upfield and exchanged passes with Jarrod Bowen before he was wiped out in the area by an ungainly challenge from Chris Basham.

Lingard wanted to take the penalty but captain Rice pulled rank before tucking away his first goal of the season, and the first spot-kick of his career.

The Blades arrived in London knowing a win would lift them off the foot of the table for the first time since November 7.

David McGoldrick should have hauled them level with a close-range header, but his weak effort was kept out by a combination of Ben Johnson's back and Lukasz Fabianski's hand.

The miss proved costly moments later when Hammers defender Diop was left unmarked to head in Aaron Cresswell's corner.

It was the eighth time that West Ham have scored from a corner this season, more than any other team. And the eighth time the Blades have conceded from a corner – also a Premier League high.

It was also the 39th goal Chris Wilder's side had leaked this season, which was as many as they conceded during the whole of their impressive maiden campaign in the top flight.

To make matters worse defender John Egan left the field on a stretcher before Hammers substitute Fredericks drilled home in stoppage time to cap another tough night for the embattled Blades.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds28178353193459
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd29186540211958
3Burnley28151123692756
4Sunderland291510442241855
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom291014538251344
6Middlesbrough29128947361144
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn29126113228442
8Bristol City29101183734341
9Watford29125124041-141
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds29118104245-341
11Norwich CityNorwich29109104842639
12Coventry CityCoventry29108113938138
13Queens Park RangersQPR2991193237-538
14Preston North EndPreston2981383236-437
15Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2999113343-1036
16Millwall28810102726134
17Swansea CitySwansea2997133240-834
18Cardiff CityCardiff29710123344-1131
19Hull City2978143038-829
20Stoke CityStoke29611122636-1029
21Portsmouth2878133651-1529
22Derby CountyDerby2976163240-827
23Luton TownLuton2975172948-1926
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth29410152762-3522


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