Not for the first time in recent weeks West Ham United have missed the chance to put pressure on Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest near the bottom. They could not take the two chances that bookended an encounter that came to life in the final quarter.
Axel Disasi poked over the crossbar inside the opening minute and Jarrod Bowen blazed wide from eight yards under a challenge from Adrien Truffert in stoppage time at the end. West Ham managed just three of 20 shots on target.
“I was praying for that,” Nuno Espírito Santo said of Bowen’s chance. “I was seeing three points and happy days. The feeling is sadness that it was almost there for us to take, and we didn’t. They gave it all.”
Wilson was denied by Petrovic moments after coming on
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Disasi was undecided about joining on loan from Chelsea last month but the centre back was calm and authoritative, playing a big part in a vast improvement in West Ham’s defence lately. Home draws are, however, of little comfort to West Ham, who are two points from safety and play Liverpool and Manchester City in their next four fixtures. At least they retained concentration to the end this time, having dropped 20 points from winning positions, in part due to last-gasp goals in four matches. “We’ve played games OK and lost from a loss of concentration,” Bowen said. “We take a point. Where we are, we need confidence but we also need results.”
Taty Castellanos has been the physical target man that West Ham missed earlier this season. He struck a bicycle kick wide and, in the dying minutes, took too long to return a pass to Crysencio Summerville inside the penalty area. Summerville produced another lively display, making darting runs as well as harrying and chasing opponents, wanting to impress the watching Ruud van Nistelrooy who will be part of the Netherlands coaching staff at the World Cup this summer.
Bournemouth threatened more after the break, helped by their substitutions and the game opening up. Rayan raced clear from midway inside his own half, skipping past three opponents before his left-footed shot grazed the post. Andoni Iraola’s side are unbeaten in seven league games and have a chance to qualify for Europe, one season ahead of a schedule laid out by their billionaire owner Bill Foley.
“We started slow, we did not win duels, the offensive players were not playing well, and in the second half we looked a lot more dangerous,” Iraola said.
Iraola watches from the stands while serving a touchline ban
JAMES MARSH/SHUTTERSTOCK
Bournemouth were sometimes troubled by Bowen’s inswinging corners and as well as Disasi’s miss, Castellanos glanced another chance over. Castellanos played a one-two with Tomas Soucek before curling a cross that Summerville could only help towards goal without any power. Summerville had an absorbing contest with the Bournemouth full back Álex Jiménez, who became a target for home fans when he was fortunate to escape a booking for tripping the winger.
The fans’ unhappiness grew when Soucek was booked for a similar and late tackle on Alex Scott, who exaggerated the contact. Summerville was lively and his jinking runs lifted the atmosphere. He twisted past Marco Senesi and Tyler Adams before shooting over.
Rayan hit the post in the second half
JOHN WALTON/PA
The sides cancelled each other out. Bowen set himself up with four touches with his back to goal before shooting wide. David Brooks injected energy and width when he came on and posed a greater problem for El Hadji Malick Diouf, the left back who slid to block Rayan’s drive and then crossed for Callum Wilson to have a near-post flick saved. Mads Hermansen did well to cling onto a low shot from Scott. Marcus Tavernier ran nearly the length of the pitch but no one was there to convert his cut-back.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): M Hermansen — A Wan-Bissaka, K Mavropanos, A Disasi, E Diouf — M Fernandes, S Magassa (M Kante 84 min) — J Bowen, T Soucek (C Wilson 72), C Summerville — T Castellanos. Booked Soucek.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): D Petrovic — A Jimenez (A Smith 89), J Hill, M Senesi, A Truffert — A Scott, T Adams (R Christie 66) — Rayan, J Kroupi (E Ünal 89) A Adli (D Brooks 66) — Evanilson (M Tavernier 80). Booked Senesi.
Referee S Barrott