Fan blogger Ollie Hirst looks ahead to Saturday's game...
As I annoyingly predicted here a week ago, Leicester City were to prove more difficult opponents at Upton Park than Arsenal at the Emirates. By the time we started to really press the Foxes, after half time, it was simply too little, too late to impact the result.
Dimitri Payet's goal came from our first shot on target - in the 55th minute! Although, we were also wrongfully denied a penalty shortly before the break, when Kasper Schmeichel halted Diafra Sakho in his tracks. We clearly benefited from a half-time reshuffle and hopefully by the time Bournemouth arrive in E13 on Saturday, Slaven will have already struck upon a winning formula.
This is the thing about a new team with a new coach beginning a new season. It's difficult to expect things to start clicking straight away and in the first few weeks this is the time when poor results should be overlooked.
We must forget Leicester quickly and try to get our sixth point from a possible nine against Bournemouth. I don't know about you, but I'd have bitten your hand off for that start to the campaign. The trouble is, this won't be an easy fixture either.
They've perhaps been unlucky to lose both their matches so far and although they might appear favourable opponents on paper, they're far better in reality. In terms of being a team, there are few others that can match up to Eddie Howe's, which was part-constructed in League One three seasons ago and has forged a successful bond ever since.
They will come to play football and try to soak up possession with a likely five-man midfield. They also boast pace in abundance where it counts, through striker Callum Wilson and supporting wide men Max Gradel and Josh King. Danger man Matt Ritchie is no slouch either.
It's imperative that we start well or they'll settle. I'd gladly take a half like the second against Leicester to start with and have something to build on at the break. We need to get used to being in command on our own turf and give the fans something to get behind.
I personally believe we'll surprise a few on our travels this season, but it's no good if we can't win at home. There's real ability in this side, but in order to turn the Boleyn into a fortress we need the players to show some real character. Let's start on the front foot and act like we believe we can be the top half side we have all the potential to be. Get the first goal, perhaps a second and suddenly you actually start to believe it yourself.
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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United