West Ham are tantalisingly close to a European return after they came from behind to beat relegated West Brom in the Premier League at The Hawthorns.
David Moyes’ side are guaranteed at least seventh place – and a spot in the new Europa Conference League play-off round – unless results go against them significantly on Sunday.
A point at home to Southampton would ensure sixth spot and a place in the Europa League group stage. It would also mark their highest position since 1999.
West Brom already knew they would be playing Championship football next season – but will be doing so without Sam Allardyce. The Baggies boss confirmed after the game that he would not be staying on next term.
Victory did not come easily for the Hammers, with Declan Rice missing a first-half penalty before Matheus Pereira gave West Brom the lead.
Tomas Soucek levelled before half-time with his 10th goal of the season, but the hosts continued to carry a threat.
Angelo Ogbonna nodded West Ham in front eight minutes from time, though, before Michail Antonio finished the Baggies off at the end.
From relegation candidates to European contenders
Moyes has effected a remarkable transformation at London Stadium over the past 12 months. With two games left of last season, there was still a possibility they would end up in the Championship.
Soucek’s impact has been immense. But the Czech is not on his own.
Jesse Lingard’s arrival from Manchester United during the January transfer window gave the Hammers impetus, while Antonio has justified his manager’s decision not to bring in a mid-season striking reinforcement.
But West Ham fans will worry whether anyone will come in with a significant bid for Rice.
The England midfielder keeps the Hammers moving in his unfussy, mature way and not even a missed penalty could put him off on Wednesday.
Rice struck his effort confidently enough after goalkeeper Sam Johnstone had taken down Antonio, who had seized on Semi Ajayi’s terrible backpass. But it crashed back to safety off Johnstone’s right-hand post.
That was after two minutes and four seconds of play, meaning Rice enters the history books for the earliest penalty miss in a Premier League match.
Aaron Cresswell’s inspired free-kick, when he caught Johnstone out of position and rattled the outside of a post, was the visitors’ best effort until Ogbonna struck, with his first goal since December, to give West Ham a priceless advantage.
“We have been playing really well, but in this game we did not play really well – but it shows we can win in other ways,” Moyes said.
“I am delighted but it is not done. I will go away and sit back and enjoy it and look at the permutations. We have to win our game and then there is no danger.
“Overall we have earned it this year [to be in a position for European football] but we have a bit to do yet and hopefully we can get over the line.”
Allardyce’s decision indicates tough times ahead
Sam Allardyce’s decision not to see out the final year of his contract says quite a lot about the financial clout West Brom have to mount an immediate promotion challenge.
The former England boss said a few weeks ago that he didn’t want to be “messing around” if he did drop down to the Championship. Evidently, the odds were not to his liking.
Quite apart from the loan players who will not be returning, Johnstone and Pereira are likely to be the subject of top-flight interest.
The West Brom fans told Pereira “we want you to stay” and his goal, a dangerous corner that was on target when Soucek flicked it in, underlined why.
Pereira nearly had another with a stinging effort that was well saved by Darren Randolph, a late replacement for first-choice Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski, who was injured in the warm-up.
Ajeyi might have put the hosts back in front with a close-range effort Randolph saved with his chest but this was another of those games where West Brom put themselves in a good position to get a result only to let it slip by the end.
Soucek equals Nolan’s record – the stats
- West Ham have picked up 31 points in away matches this season, their most on the road in a single top-flight campaign since 1985-86 (also 31).
- West Brom conceded 39 goals at home in league competition this season, their worst defensive performance at home in a single league campaign.
- West Ham boss David Moyes has now won each of his past eight Premier League meetings with Sam Allardyce.
- When converting to three-points-per-win all-time, only in 1890-91 (10) and 2002-03 (14) have West Brom earned fewer points at home than this season (15).
- West Ham have failed to score four of their last eight penalties in the Premier League that weren’t taken by Mark Noble, while Noble has converted each of his last 10 in the competition.
- Matheus Pereira has been directly involved in 17 goals in the Premier League this season (11 goals, six assists), the most by a West Brom player in a single campaign since Romelu Lukaku in 2012-13 (21).
- Matheus Pereira’s 11 Premier League goals for West Brom have all been scored with his left foot – only Stuart Pearce (20/20) has scored more goals in the competition entirely with his left foot.
- Tomas Soucek has netted 10 goals for West Ham in the Premier League this season, the most by a midfielder for the club in a single campaign since Kevin Nolan in 2012-13 (also 10).
- West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell has assisted eight Premier League goals this season, the most of any defender – each of the last three have been for headers at corners.
What next?
West Brom play their last Premier League game for at least a season at Leeds. West Ham entertain Southampton at London Stadium. Both matches are on Sunday, 23 May (16:00 BST).
Player of the match
BenrahmaSaïd Benrahma
West Bromwich Albion
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Squad number12Player nameMatheus Pereira
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Squad number30Player nameMaitland-Niles
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Squad number4Player nameRobson-Kanu
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Squad number1Player nameJohnstone
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Squad number10Player namePhillips
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Squad number14Player nameTownsend
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Squad number35Player nameYokuslu
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Squad number2Player nameFurlong
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Squad number5Player nameBartley
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Squad number6Player nameAjayi
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Squad number18Player nameGallagher
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Squad number11Player nameDiangana
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Squad number17Player nameDiagne
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Squad number29Player nameGrant
West Ham United
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Squad number9Player nameBenrahma
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Squad number20Player nameBowen
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Squad number28Player nameSoucek
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Squad number11Player nameLingard
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Squad number30Player nameAntonio
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Squad number21Player nameOgbonna
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Squad number3Player nameCresswell
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Squad number5Player nameCoufal
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Squad number15Player nameDawson
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Squad number23Player nameDiop
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Squad number18Player nameFornals
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Squad number35Player nameRandolph
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Squad number41Player nameRice
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Line-ups
West Brom
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1JohnstoneBooked at 1mins
- 2Furlong
- 6Ajayi
- 5Bartley
- 14Townsend
- 10Phillips
- 18Gallagher
- 35YokusluBooked at 40minsSubstituted forGrantat 85′minutes
- 30Maitland-NilesSubstituted forDianganaat 69′minutes
- 12Costa Pereira
- 4Robson-KanuSubstituted forDiagneat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Robinson
- 11Diangana
- 17Diagne
- 22Peltier
- 25Button
- 27O’Shea
- 29Grant
- 45Gardner-Hickman
- 51King
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 35Randolph
- 5Coufal
- 15DawsonBooked at 87mins
- 21OgbonnaBooked at 34mins
- 3Cresswell
- 28Soucek
- 41Rice
- 18FornalsSubstituted forDiopat 89′minutes
- 11Lingard
- 9BenrahmaSubstituted forBowenat 72′minutes
- 30Antonio
Substitutes
- 4Balbuena
- 7Yarmolenko
- 16Noble
- 20Bowen
- 23Diop
- 24Fredericks
- 31Johnson
- 34Trott
- 45Odubeko
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 5,371
Live Text
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Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, West Ham United 3.
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Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, West Ham United 3.
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Attempt saved. Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jesse Lingard.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Issa Diop replaces Pablo Fornals.
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Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Mbaye Diagne replaces Hal Robson-Kanu.
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Goal! West Bromwich Albion 1, West Ham United 3. Michail Antonio (West Ham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jesse Lingard following a fast break.
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Craig Dawson (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Craig Dawson (West Ham United).
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Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Karlan Grant replaces Okay Yokuslu.
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Sam Johnstone tries a through ball, but Matheus Pereira is caught offside.
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Foul by Michail Antonio (West Ham United).
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Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Michail Antonio (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion).
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VAR Decision: Goal West Ham United – West Bromwich Albion 1-2 West Ham United (Angelo Ogbonna).
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Goal! West Bromwich Albion 1, West Ham United 2. Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aaron Cresswell with a cross following a corner.Goal confirmed following VAR Review.
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Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Sam Johnstone.
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Attempt saved. Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jarrod Bowen with a through ball.
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Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.