When it comes to the back end of May and West Ham reflect on the season that was, there is every chance that this soggy Saturday will go down as a missed opportunity that proved decisive in their survival plight.<\/p>\n
Victory here would have raised the possibility of Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo\u2019s side ending the weekend out of the relegation zone for the first time since early December. In keeping with those over recent weeks, much of the performance was befitting of another three points. But, thanks to a couple of smart Djordje Petrovic saves and some profligacy in front of goal, the hosts had to make do with a draw \u2013 an expected goals (xG) total of 2.87 from 20 shots yielding a blank in the only column that matters.<\/p>\n
Their side\u2019s continued resurgence does provide some encouragement for the home fans, however. From a position of hopelessness in mid-January, West Ham have lost just one of their last six league games, and the gap to a safe position is down to two points, at least until Nottingham Forest host Liverpool on Sunday. That is something to take heart from despite the fact they largely overwhelmed a Bournemouth<\/a> side whose unbeaten run extends to seven league games.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were really close,\u201d said Nuno. \u201cThat is the feeling that stays with us \u2013 that we feel it is almost there for us to take and we didn\u2019t take it.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, we played well, we competed well and we were solid. But, overall, it was us who were really close and that\u2019s why we are sad. Unfortunately today it was not to be.\u201d<\/p>\n In a match devoid of life for the best part of the middle hour \u2013 all sense of urgency dissolving in the early evening drizzle \u2013 it was the start and end that provided the notable moments.<\/p>\n In the opening six minutes alone, West Ham had four shots. They should have scored at least one of them, but that would become a recurring theme as the afternoon wore on.<\/p>\n Axel Disasi competes for the ball in a goalmouth scramble. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge\/Action Images\/Reuters<\/p>\n Axel Disasi had head in hands after Petrovic palmed away his initial header and he turned the rebound over the bar from a couple of yards out, all within 45 seconds of kick-off. A fabulous flowing move swiftly followed, culminating in Taty Castellanos delivering a peach of a cross for Crysencio Summerville, but the in-form winger could only prod into Petrovic\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n Summerville has waited a considerable time for his West Ham career to catch light, but played with the confidence of someone who has scored six goals in his last seven appearances \u2013 a tally that makes him his team\u2019s second highest scorer this season, despite all of them coming since the turn of the year. As West Ham\u2019s main attacking outlet, Summerville displayed an abundance of trickery and a permanent desire to take on his opposite number, but provided little in the way of cutting edge.<\/p>\n Having earlier seen a shot deflected on to the roof of the net, he might have scored when presented with a prime opportunity inside the Bournemouth box in the closing stages, but could not get the ball out from under his feet.<\/p>\n Substitute Callum Wilson had a first-time flick excellently beaten away by Petrovic, a Castellanos bicycle kick briefly threatened the spectacular, and, deep in injury time, Jarrod Bowen failed to hit the target from a few yards out. \u201cI was praying,\u201d said Nuno, of the moment Bowen was played through on goal. It rather summed up the home side\u2019s afternoon.<\/p>\n Having appeared motionless for the first few minutes of the match, Bournemouth did improve after half-time, but largely fed off scraps.<\/p>\n