Premier League
West HamWest Ham United1West BromWest Bromwich Albion1

West Ham United 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

By Mandeep SangheraBBC Sport
Mauro Zarate's goal was the eighth direct free-kick scored in the Premier League this season
Zarate's goal was the eighth direct free-kick scored in the Premier League this season

Rickie Lambert's deflected shot earned West Brom a point against a West Ham side who have gone four Premier League games without a win.

The Hammers took the lead when Mauro Zarate curled an exquisite 25-yard free-kick high into the net.

But the visitors equalised when a Lambert shot was deflected into his own goal by Hammers defender Winston Reid.

Salomon Rondon had a promising chance but his header from six yards was excellently saved by keeper Adrian.

Hammers pay for missed chances

West Ham were the dominant team in the first half and Zarate sliced a shot into the side-netting when well-placed before he put the home side in front with his sumptuous free-kick.

Neither side did enough to win - West Ham boss Bilic

With the Baggies rocking, Cheikhou Kouyate got in between the visitors' two centre-backs but glanced a header wide from Aaron Cresswell's cross.

West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill then had to pull off two smart saves from the lively Manuel Lanzini, keeping out a swerving long range strike and a first-time effort from the Argentine midfielder.

Diafra Sakho also had a clear sight of goal late on at the end of a counter-attack but his effort was blocked by the sliding leg of defender Jonas Olsson, before the Hammers striker limped off injured.

"I was very pleased with the way we played in the first half but I thought we should have been at least two up," said West Ham boss Slaven Bilic.

Lambert sparks Baggies into life

The move which led to West Brom's equaliser started with keeper Boaz Myhill
The move which led to West Brom's equaliser started with keeper Boaz Myhill

West Brom improved after the break, with striker Lambert coming on to join fellow forward Rondon in attack.

Lambert made an immediate impact as his shot led to the equaliser, and he caused plenty of problems for the home side.

The former Southampton and Liverpool player also played a lovely ball over the top of the home defence late on only for James McClean - at full stretch - to fail to get enough power on his shot.

"Rick has been a wonderful signing for us. He hasn't played that many games but his attitude and focus is spot on," said West Brom manager Tony Pulis.

"If James had a little bit more composure he could have passed it into the bottom corner."

Man of the match

West Ham forward Mauro Zarate
Mauro Zarate has scored in three of his four Premier League starts for West Ham United in 2015-16

What they said:

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "Mauro Zarate is practicing these free-kicks and usually when the ball goes over the wall the way he wants it is tough to stop it.

Lambert changed the game - West Brom boss Pulis

"It's a difficult league and home games are a lot about confidence. Like today, after we scored we were excellent until we conceded."

West Brom boss Tony Pulis: "It was a soft free-kick which led to their goal and we were a bit fortunate to come in only one down at half-time.

"We were better in the second half, there's no doubt about that."

The stats you need to know

  • West Ham have now conceded in nine successive Premier League games; the worst current run in the top flight.
  • But the Hammers have now scored in 11 successive Premier League matches at Upton Park.
  • Five of the last six Premier League games between these two at Upton Park have ended level.
  • West Brom managed only 39% possession in this game - the third successive league match in which they have had less than 40% possession.

What next?

West Ham travel to Old Trafford to play Manchester United in their next league game, while West Brom are next in action when they host Tottenham in the top flight.

Line-ups

West Ham

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 13Adrián
  • 12Jenkinson
  • 2Reid
  • 21Ogbonna
  • 3Cresswell
  • 14ObiangSubstituted forCarrollat 64'minutes
  • 20Moses
  • 8Kouyaté
  • 28Lanzini
  • 10ZárateSubstituted forAntonioat 82'minutes
  • 15SakhoSubstituted forJelavicat 74'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Song
  • 5Tomkins
  • 9Carroll
  • 26Jelavic
  • 30Antonio
  • 34Spiegel
  • 39Cullen

West Brom

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 13Myhill
  • 25Dawson
  • 23McAuley
  • 3OlssonBooked at 17mins
  • 6Evans
  • 29SessegnonSubstituted forLambertat 45'minutes
  • 24Fletcher
  • 5YacobBooked at 81mins
  • 14McClean
  • 7Morrison
  • 33Rondón

Substitutes

  • 4Chester
  • 8Gardner
  • 10Anichebe
  • 17Lambert
  • 18Berahino
  • 19McManaman
  • 21Lindegaard
Referee:
Martin Atkinson
Attendance:
34,914

Match Stats

Home TeamWest HamAway TeamWest Brom
Possession
Home61%
Away39%
Shots
Home17
Away7
Shots on Target
Home6
Away3
Corners
Home5
Away2
Fouls
Home15
Away16

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, West Ham United 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, West Ham United 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

  4. Post update

    Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion).

  6. Post update

    Foul by Victor Moses (West Ham United).

  7. Post update

    Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Attempt saved. James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rickie Lambert.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Victor Moses (West Ham United).

  10. Post update

    Darren Fletcher (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Victor Moses (West Ham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Manuel Lanzini.

  12. Post update

    Cheikhou Kouyaté (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by James McClean (West Bromwich Albion).

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Nikica Jelavic (West Ham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Andy Carroll (West Ham United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, West Ham United. Michail Antonio replaces Mauro Zárate.

  17. Booking

    Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  18. Post update

    Mauro Zárate (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion).

  20. Post update

    Foul by Andy Carroll (West Ham United).

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City1492330141629
2Leicester148512921829
3Man Utd1484220101028
4Arsenal1483324121227
5Tottenham1467124111325
6Liverpool146531815323
7Crystal Palace147161914522
8West Ham146442521422
9Everton145632719821
10Southampton145542017320
11Watford145451516-119
12Stoke145451114-319
13West Brom145361318-518
14Chelsea144371723-615
15Swansea143561419-514
16Norwich143471725-813
17Sunderland143381626-1012
18Bournemouth142481730-1310
19Newcastle142481430-1610
20Aston Villa1412111227-155
View full Premier League table