Premier League
Swansea City 0-0 West Ham United 

Sunday, 20th December 2015
by Staff Writer

West Ham enjoyed just 27 per cent of possession against relegation-threatened Swansea at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon - but still did enough to earn another valuable Premier League point on the road.

You have to go back to Mauro Zarate's wonderful free kick against West Brom on 29th November to find West Ham's last Premier League goal, since when they have failed to score against Man Utd, Stoke and now Swansea.

However the defence - that couldn't stop leaking goals earlier in the campaign - is yet to be breached in December, with the last goal conceded (Winston Reid's oggie) coming during the same match as Zarate's strike.

Although managerless Swansea enjoyed 21 shots at goal today, just two managed to find the target. And that was largely down to a brilliant performance from James Collins, who threw himself in front of every ball like a man possessed.



Never one to shirk a challenge, West Ham United's Man of the Match was however a touch fortunate not to concede a late penalty when one-such typical last-ditch effort saw a shot cannon off his raised arm - a challenge that, on another day, could easily have been penalised by a spot kick to the opposition.

Yet that would have been harsh on West Ham, who had raised a penalty claim of their own earlier in the second half when Ashley Williams appeared to handle whilst lying prone in the penalty area.

Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between for the Hammers, although Swans 'keeper Lukasz Fabianski was called into action to tip away a fierce drive from substitute Enner Valencia in the game's closing stages.

Mauro Zarate, one minute inspirational the next anonymous, also forced the Polish international to make a couple of smart stops - with one effort, from an acute angle on the corner of the penalty box goal bound, before Fabianski's intervention.

At the other end Adrian - who pulled off two stunning stops to save West ham a point at home to Stoke last weekend - was also in the thick of it again, most notably when denying Jack Cork whose 20-yard volley was flying into the top corner prior to the Spaniard's timely stop.

The draw ensures West Ham remain in eighth place in the Premier League with 25 points from 17 games - with a +4 goal difference.



Swansea v West Ham: Five Pluses

1. James Collins was collossal in central defence, despite not being first choice.
2. Swansea were restricted to just two shots on target out of 21 efforts in total.
3. West Ham have failed to concede a goal for three successive games.
4. The Hammers have lost just two of their nine away games this season, drawing three and winning four.
5. There are just four points between West Ham (8th) and Tottenham in fourth pace.

Swansea v West Ham: Five Minuses

1. West Ham managed to make just 88 passes in the first half - that's less than two passes per minute.
2. West Ham have failed to score for three successive games.
3. The 27 per cent possession rate was the lowest in any match this season.
4. West Ham have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League outings.
5. The Hammers have scored just three goals in their last seven games.

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Player Ratings

Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo
Had very little to do, thanks to Swansea's profligacy.


James Tomkins
Did a decent job out of position but we lose the attacking impetus a proper full back provides.


Aaron Cresswell
A couple of excellent last-ditch tackles were the highlight of the full back's afternoon.


James Collins
The perfect game for Ginge, wh operforms at his best when we're under siege. The Welshman was immense in South Wales.


Angelo Ogbonna
A couple of hairy moments but overall another very satisfactory effort.


Cheikhou Kouyate
A quiet game for the usually imposing central midfielder.


Mark Noble
The captain struggled to exert any influence on the midfield today.


Michail Antonio
As usual there was no lack of effort - but perhaps a little shortage in guile and quality.


Alex Song
Yet to really grab the bull by the horns since returning from his lengthy absence.


Mauro Zarate
This was the Argentine at his frustrating worst, holding on for the ball too long and failing to make an impact.


Nikica Jelavic
No shortage of effort, but a clear lack of quality in the opposition penalty box.



Substitutes

Enner Valencia
(Replaced Zarate) Another feeling his way back from injury, with very little to show for his efforts.


Pedro Obiang
(Replaced Song) Barely made an impact but helped shore up the defence.


Carl Jenkinson
(Replaced Antonio) That he's played more as a winger than full back this month says mcuh about Bilic's view of his defensive capabilities.


Darren Randolph
Did not play.


Stephen Hendrie
Did not play.


Reece Oxford
Did not play.


Josh Cullen
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo, James Tomkins, Aaron Cresswell, James Collins, Angelo Ogbonna, Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble, Michail Antonio, Alex Song, Mauro Zarate, Nikica Jelavic.

Goals: None.

Booked: None.

Sent off: None.

Swansea City: .

Subs not used: .

Goals: .

Booked: n/a.

Sent off: None.

Referee: Lee Mason.

Attendance: 20,661.

Man of the Match: James Collins.