Honours even as Hammers held 1-1 by rugged Sheffield United at London Stadium

West Ham United 1 vs Sheffield United 1

Hammers and Blades shared the spoils in a game fuelled on the bitter rivalry after Sheffied United’s relegation in 2007 amid the Carlos Tevez signing scandal.

West Ham took the lead through Robert Snodgrass, in his first Premier League start since August. Roberto’s goal kick after a spell of pressure from Sheffield United found Andriy Yarmolenko who cherrypicked a beautiful pass to Snodgrass. The Scot was in acres of space and was able to comfortably slot past Dean Henderson.

Sheffield United equalised through Lys Mousset. Enda Stevens found the substitute on the corner of the box and his falling effort glanced past Roberto perfectly into the right hand corner of the goal.

West Ham had the first chance of the game when Felipe Anderson thundered a shot from outside the box but it narrowly glances over the crossbar.

It was the visitors who came the closest to breaking the deadlock when stand-in goalkeeper Roberto was forced into a fantastic impact save after David McGoldrick’s close range effort after a Sheffield United corner.

There was yet more trouble for West Ham as Sheffield United began to grow into the game. Roberto’s mistimed save wasn’t capitalised on by Callum Robinson and Enda Stevens follow-up shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Sheffield United ended the brighter of the two sides after West Ham had been dominant in possession. West Ham’s harmless crosses into the box weren’t finding the service they required and of the two sides Sheffield United had the better chances of the first half.

There were nervous moments for Sheffield United in the 56th minute when Anderson stole the ball deep within the Sheffield half and assisted by his attacking counterpart Yarmolenko, he was able to craft a fine effort that Henderson managed to save.

Anderson, who’s been out of sorts for the Hammers recently had a much better game and was replaced on the 65th minute by Manuel Lanzini.

West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell forced a save out of Henderson on the 72nd minute as West Ham began to mount pressure after United’s equaliser. Moments later Declan Rice fired a ferocious shot from outside the box that Henderson could only parry away.

On the 79th minute Snodgrass couldn’t double his tally, Yarmolenko, who played well throughout passed across the box and Snodgrass just couldn’t tuck it in, hitting the post against an already beaten Henderson.

The Hammers dug deep to find a winner, substituting Snodgrass for Albian Ajeti and the Blades replacing McGoldrick with Mo Besic was a signal of their intent to sit deep and defend a point at the London Stadium.

There was a late chance for Yarmolenko to steal the points in the first minute of stoppage time, his shot from outside the box cleared the right hand side of the bar.

West Ham, who lost their two previous games against Crystal Palace and Everton made five changes to their side today. Pablo Zabaleta, Fabian Balbuena and Aaron Cresswell came in for Ryan Fredericks, Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku. Robert Snodgrass was preferred over recent starter Pablo Fornals and Andriy Yarmolenko regained his place in the side over Manuel Lanzini.

The game was the first meeting between the two sides in the league since Sheffield United’s controversial relegation in 2007 at West Ham’s expense.

West Ham will next be in action at home on Saturday, November 2 when they take on Newcastle United.

West Ham: Roberto, A. Cresswell, F. Balbuena, P. Zabaleta, A. Yarmolenko, F. Anderson (OFF), R. Snodgrass (OFF), M. Noble (OFF), S. Haller, I. Diop, D. Rice

Subs Used: M. Lanzini, P. Fornals, A. Ajeti

Sheffield United: D. Henderson, G. Baldock, E. Stevens, J. Fleck, J. O’Connell, C. Basham, J. Lundstram. C. Robinson (OFF), J. Egan, O. Norwood (OFF), D. McGoldrick (OFF)

Subs Used: B. Sharp, L. Mousset, M. Besic