GARETH BARRY equalled Ryan Giggs’ record as he starred in his 632nd Premier League match – while Tony Pulis clocked up a ton of matches in charge of West Brom.
However it is fair to say few others will remember this drab bad-tempered affair with much fondness as two evenly matched teams fought out a goalless stalemate. Especially James Collins who ended the day on crutches after suffering a painful ankle injury early in the second half when no-one was near him.
Barry almost celebrated his record-equalling appearance with a rare goal when he looped a header over Joe Hart from a Matt Phillips corner after 12 minutes.
However the ball bounced off the roof of the net as it flew narrowly over its intended target and if ever a game needed an early goal – any goal – it was this one!
West Ham hit back when Michail Antonio out-muscled Ahmed Hegazi – no mean feat in itself – before drilling in a low shot which Ben Foster expertly smothered.
However the West Brom keeper was beaten after 29 minutes when Pedro Obiangunexpectedly drove a majestic shot from 45 yards which caught him on the hop.
Foster was stranded as the ball sailed over his head, before bouncing off the bar to his enormous relief before Jonny Evans chested the rebound into his waiting arms. When his replacement Marko Arnautovic went down injured West Brom infuriated the Hammers by refusing to kick the ball out of play.
There was further controversy when Foster raced 30 yards off his line to scythe down Chicharito . Referee Paul Tierney waved aside West Ham calls for a straight red card as Albion had two covering defenders.
From The Sun
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