Norwich City fall to 4-0 home defeat against West Ham United

Match Reports•

8th May 2022

Norwich City were beaten 4-0 at home to West Ham United at Carrow Road.

Two goals from Said Benrahma and an effort from Michail Antonio put the Hammers in control at half-time and, while Norwich thought they had pulled one back through Sam Bryam it was ruled out for a handball. A fourth West Ham goal then followed from the penalty spot by Manuel Lanzini.

Dean Smith made one change to the side that lost to Aston Villa last time out as Jacob Sørensen made his first Premier League start since a 2-1 win against Everton on January 15 at Carrow Road. He replaced Mathias Normann, who was out with a thigh complaint. There was also a place on the bench for Liam Gibbs, who replaced the injured Josh Sargent.

West Ham United started brightly when Manuel Lanzini took down a cross on the left side of the box and teed up Michail Antonio, but his effort at goal was well blocked by Max Aarons.

It was a sign of things to come though as Benrahma picked up the ball in space on the left side of the box after 11 minutes, following a pass from Jarrod Bowen, and the former Brentford man hit a shot that, with the aid of a deflection squirmed its way past Tim Krul’s outstretched hand and into the back of the net.

Norwich responded well to going 1-0 behind, with Pierre Lees-Melou, twice, and Billy Gilmour firing volleys at goal that were well blocked. However, the team’s achilles heel this season, of giving away poor goals, came back to haunt them as a mix up between Grant Hanley and Krul, when trying to usher Antonio away from goal, handed the Jamaican striker a simple tap in on the half hour.

Then on the stroke of half-time Jarrod Bowen was allowed too much space on the right again and he crossed for Benrahma to rifle home his second of the afternoon from just inside the area.

Head coach Dean Smith made a double change at half-time, bringing on Tony Springett on for his debut and Lukas Rupp. Pierre Lees-Melou and Milot Rashica were the players to depart.

Springett was immediately into the action as he raced into the area and won a corner. That corner was played in and made it to the back post where Sam Byram fired home. However, after a VAR review the goal was chalked off for handball.

Pablo Fornals then tested Tim Krul with a header from a first-time Vladimir Coufal cross, but the keeper saved well and then the offside flag went up anyway.

Then on 60 minutes West Ham United were awarded a penalty when Craig Dawson ran to the near post to get on the end of a corner. Following a VAR review, it was adjudged that Sørensen had handled it and Lanzini stepped up to roll the spot kick into the bottom corner.

West Ham United then had two good chances to extend their led. The first came when Aaron Cresswell crossed for Fornals to send an effort just wide and then Benrahma got put clean through on goal, but Hanley got back well to make a recovery challenge and prevent him from getting a shot away.

Teemu Pukki was played through in the final minute to try and get a consolation goal but his effort was blocked by Lukas Fabianski.