The second chapter of our 2021/22 season review kicks off with an action-packed September...
September
A 0-0 draw at Southampton to kick September off was hardly symbolic of a memorable month to come.
The Hammers’ next match was a first on the continent in six seasons - and our first-ever in the UEFA Europa League proper - as 1,500 committed West Ham supporters made the long journey to face Dinamo Zagreb.
A stylish performance saw Michail Antonio open the scoring before vice-captain Declan Rice – on his 150th Club appearance – produced a special solo effort shortly after half-time, a 2-0 win getting us off to a great start in Group H.
It was back down to earth three days later, a first defeat of the season coming at home to Manchester United in the most dramatic of Premier League circumstances.
But we wrought due revenge in the Carabao Cup third round another three days after that, Manuel Lanzini’s early finish – plus a stalwart defensive display – securing our first win at Old Trafford in 15 years, a 1-0 win setting up a fourth-round tie against Manchester City at London Stadium.
An injury-time Antonio winner secured a 2-1 come-from-behind win at Leeds United as the Moyes’ much-rotated squad rise to the new challenge of a packed fixture programme.
And the day after the Club unveiled a new statue paying tribute to the Club’s 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup-winning heroes, the Hammers secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Rapid Vienna in our first Europa League home game under the London Stadium lights.
October
A seventh game in the space of just 23 days ended in heartbreak as Brentford scored with the last kick of the game to win 2-1 in our first meeting with the Bees since 1993 - a defeat notable for featuring Jarrod Bowen's first goal of the season.
But as manager Moyes reiterated, the Hammers were learning the lessons dictated by competing on four fronts, and subsequently impressed in a 1-0 win at Everton upon their return from international duty.
Three further back-to-back clean sheets followed, a comfortable 3-0 home win over Genk predating yet another match-winning turn from Antonio against Tottenham Hotspur.
But it was the final shut-out of October which was perhaps most impressive.
West Ham became the first team to eliminate Manchester City from the Carabao Cup in almost six years, holding Pep Guardiola’s team to a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes in a fourth-round tie at London Stadium, before Alphonse Areola starred in a 5-3 penalty shoot-out win.
And on Halloween Eve, it was the Irons who produced a devilish display to terrorise Aston Villa, running rampant in a 4-1 win.
The scarily good showing was powered by goals from Ben Johnson, Declan Rice, Pablo Fornals and Bowen again.
Well and truly in form, it wouldn't be too long before the Irons were to produce one of their performances of the season at the start of November... but that's for next time!
