West Ham did, for one brief period at the start of the second half yesterday, look as if they were rallying and could get something out of the game. Pressing forward, Bowen was shoved off the ball and ‘Villa swept downfield in a classic counter punch – or perhaps sucker punch – move that led to their second, crucial goal that effectively killed off the game.
Without Mads Hermansen’s error, however, the result might have been different. He’d pulled of a couple of good saves, true enough, but his ‘brain fart’ fumble that led to Ollie Watkins’ strike must have left West Ham’s goal keeping coach Rui Barbosa’s head firmly in his hands.
Not again – Hermansen’s mistake gifted Ollie Watkins the crucial second goal
Joe Hart – partial to the odd goal keeping howler in his day – explained perfectly on MOTD2 ‘what went wrong’ as Hermansen gifted villa their second goal:
“People at home will rightly be asking questions. How has a Premier League goalkeeper done this?..
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Now, Hermansen here is perfectly set. Great balance….. He’s set to spring across his goal. As we roll it on, turns out it’s not actually a great finish. Just as it takes that bounce, I think Hermansen’s instinct is ‘catch’. Then, with the moment and the predicament that West Ham are in, he maybe thinks ‘parry it and get it out the danger area’.
“All this is going through a goalkeeper’s mind in a split second and then at the last second he goes ‘No, I’ve got to catch it, I’m a good goalkeeper, I’ve got to catch it’ He ends up doing nothing. We see it in his hands there. Left arm, elbow bent, his weight isn’t forward and he ends up kind of flopping.”
Sadly a perfect description. Little comfort to the Hammers’ defence or to supporters.
Hermansen flopped (or flapped), Watkins pounced and West Ham lost. Enough to send him back to the bench? Nuno has two weeks to work with Alphonse Areola before he decides – and in any case the French ‘keeper will more than likely get the nod for the FA Cup quarter final and have his own chance to impress.
However yesterday was hardly a confidence booster for Hermansen ahead of his countries’ fast approaching crucial World Cup qualifier semi final – in which he was odds-on to finally make his debut with Caspar Schmeichel out for a year.