West Ham United were held to a 0-0 draw by Bournemouth at the London Stadium, the sixth successive Premier League stalemate between the two sides.
The Hammers missed a great chance to take three crucial points and drag themselves out of the bottom three.
However, West Ham will find some happiness in the fact that they kept a clean sheet, the second in three league games, a rare occurrence for the typically susceptible Hammers rearguard.
Axel Disasi in that backline has been a difference-maker. The Frenchman has been imperious at the back since joining from Chelsea on loan till the rest of the season.
The 27-year-old won two-thirds of his aerial duels and made four clearances to shut the Cherries out. Disasi has looked worth the punt.
Even though he missed a terrific chance to give West Ham the lead in the first minute of the game, he enjoyed another great outing.
[Standard Sport](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-vs-bournemouth-premier-league-result-b1271961.html) wrote, ‘Disasi, rescued from Chelsea’s bomb squad last month, has injected a quiet air of authority in the Hammers’ previously angst-ridden defence.’
If he continues at this level, West Ham have to make the move permanent. Disasi has not just added numbers, he has added balance.
There is a calmness to the defensive line now, a clarity in positioning and a willingness to attack first balls that had been missing for much of the campaign.
His reading of danger has reduced the frantic, last-ditch scrambling that too often defined West Ham’s backline earlier in the season. The clean sheets are no coincidence.
On current form, it is hard to see how [Max Kilman](https://westhamblog.co.uk/west-ham-confirm-the-signing-of-max-kilman-from-wolves/) walks straight back into this team. Competition is healthy, but Disasi has made the shirt his own.
There is still work to do if the Hammers are to climb clear of danger, but Disasi has already shown he can be a cornerstone of that fight.
If these performances continue, West Ham should not hesitate to approach Chelsea for a permanent deal.