The looming possibility of relegation from the Women’s Super League (WSL) is growing as West Ham’s misfortunes in the league continue.
Whilst the implications of last week’s proverbial six pointer against Birmingham City were certainly not lost on Ollie Harder’s side.
However, the stark reality is that one moment of lax concentration has left the Irons positioned perilously at the foot of the WSL table after Ruby Mace’s equaliser in the dying embers for the Midlands club.
Torrid Times
West Ham are yet to win on home soil this term, which is concerning in itself, but couple that with the fact that Harder is still waiting for his first taste of victory in the league since moving to east London in December, and the picture becomes undoubtedly more unsettling. The New Zealander’s appointment followed an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Bristol City at Twerton Park, though just two points from a possible 18 have followed.
During this rut, the Irons have shipped 11 goals, while notching just three of their own. It is worth noting the Hammers have faced title contending duo Chelsea and Man City in this time, though stalemates with relegation rivals Bristol City and Birmingham will unequivocally feel like missed opportunities.
Consistency has been the Irons’ Achilles heel; West Ham have managed just one clean sheet this season, and have failed to register successive wins since December 2018, when they defeated Bristol City and Brighton and Hove Albion with a pair of two-nil victories.
Lack Of Firepower
The Hammers’ solitary shutout came in the final game of 2020 against the Robins, yet it is West Ham’s toils in the other 18-yard box which is proving troublesome. Laura Vetterlein spoke after last weekend’s draw with Birmingham:
“We scored two goals, which is a big plus for us because we’ve struggled to score in recent weeks,” said the German defender.
“We’ve worked a lot on that during training, so to see it actually coming to fruition out there on the pitch is a plus and we need to keep building on that. We spent about three weeks in training working on creating chances and our play in the final third, and I believe that you could see some of that hard work in the second half with the chances that we were able to create.”
The Run-In
West Ham are a point shy of both Bristol City – managed by former Irons’ boss Matt Beard – and Aston Villa. However, with a goal difference of -18 – far better than City’s -47 and Villa’s -28 – and two games in hand over the Bristol club, West Ham’s season is far from finished.
The Irons will go toe-to-toe with three of the top five in their remaining six games. A trip to face Manchester United is up next, with visits from Everton and Man City still to come.
Easter Weekend’s outing against Reading, and home away clashes with Villa look to be West Ham’s most likely sources of points as West Ham bid to retain their top-flight status.
