West Ham put in an impressive performance to defeat fellow relegation strugglers Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium, with Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta, Declan Rice, and Pablo Fornals all finding the back of the net for the visitors.
West Ham Secure Crucial Victory in Relegation Battle
West Ham started the match on the front foot, with Antonio rising unmarked to head in Cresswell’s corner after just five minutes. Paqueta then added another header to double their lead just seven minutes later, as the Hammers took control of the game.
Bournemouth attempted to reply and had an opportunity to score when Jefferson Lerma hit a long-range drive, but Fabianski was equal to it, diving to his left to deflect it away from goal.
West Ham continued to dominate, and Rice scored their third just before halftime with a powerful strike that left Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto with no chance. The Cherries failed to clear the ball from Cresswell’s corner, allowing the Hammers skipper to smash the ball into the back of the net.
Bournemouth attempted a comeback in the second half, but were unable to penetrate a well-organized West Ham defense. The visitors were a constant threat on the counter-attack, and Fornals capped off the carnage with a fantastic acrobatic finish after Bowen’s cross.
With just seven games remaining, West Ham climbed up to 13th in the Premier League rankings, six points clear of the relegation zone. Bournemouth, meanwhile, fall to 15th, five points above the drop zone with six games remaining.
David Moyes’ side will have tough tests against Liverpool and Manchester City in the coming weeks, but this convincing victory will provide them with the confidence they need to fight for Premier League survival. Bournemouth, on the other hand, will need to recover soon as they face Southampton and Leeds in their next two games.
Bournemouth’s Recent Good Form Comes to an End
Bournemouth had won four of their previous six league games coming into this match, but they were unable to keep up their excellent record against a powerful West Ham team. The Cherries struggled to get into the game, and Fabianski made some crucial saves to keep their limited chances at bay. Despite a valiant effort, they were ultimately outclassed by the visitors, who put in an impressive performance to secure a much-needed victory.
