There were more than a few raised eyebrows when Mads Hermansen was handed the “between the sticks” duties for West Ham last night.
After all, the Danish goalkeeper had conceded five goals against Liverpool just a few days earlier, with some suggesting Alphonse Areola might have done better at Anfield. Personally, I did not think Hermansen did too much wrong in the 5–2 defeat and have believed for some time that his distribution gets West Ham on the front foot far quicker than Areola.
Last night at Craven Cottage, the Hammers’ most expensive ever goalkeeper only had two real saves to make — but he dealt with both brilliantly.
Raúl Jiménez produced a stinging effort just before half-time which Hermansen pushed away superbly, and Castagne fired in an equally vicious shot in the 87th minute which the Dane again kept out with an excellent stop.
Two Saves Worth Their Weight in Gold
Those were interventions that were as timely as they were important and proved just as crucial as Crysencio Summerville’s goal at the other end.
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Nuno Espírito Santo has made the right call at the right time with Hermansen. And considering the West Ham manager was himself a goalkeeper, it is fair to assume he knows what he is doing when it comes to selecting one.
A 1–0 win and yet another clean sheet show that the Hammers’ defence is very much a work in progress — but clearly heading in the right direction despite the setback at Anfield.
Long may it continue. ⚒️