West Ham United’s last Barclays Premier League assignment saw them come out on top by a 1-0 scoreline against Sunderland.
While 1-0 may have been an unfamiliar conclusion this term, the source of the goal was not as Diafra Sakho popped up late on to notch his twelfth goal of a hugely impressive debut season in England.
Ten of those twelve have been scored in league action, with seven coming via his head – indicative of a greater trend amongst the Hammers’ goals this term.
No team in the top flight has scored more headed goals, nor attempted more headed shots this season than the Hammers, and that looks unlikely to change before the season’s out.
The Hammers’ total of 99 headed shots is 23 ahead of the next challenger – Queens Park Rangers – while the goal tally (15) is four ahead of both Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.
Sakho's goal against Manchester City came as the result of a fine move
West Ham’s strikers have contributed ten of those headed goals in league action, showing the value of their prolific crossers from both flanks.
Sakho also possesses a fine conversion rate when it comes to headed attempts, having scored 20% of all his headers in the league, above his overall shot conversion ratio of 16%.
It is clear that Sakho (five headed league goals), Andy Carroll (two), Enner Valencia (two) and Carlton Cole (one) have added a dangerous aerial weapon to the Hammers’ play this term and with the supply line set to continue that is likely to remain the case.
Stewart Downing’s 70 accurate crosses this season is a league-leading stat, while Aaron Cresswell, Carl Jenkinson and Mark Noble all feature in the top flight’s top 50 for consistent quality of delivery.
What is for certain is that Leicester City’s defenders will have to be wary of West Ham when they travel to the King Power Stadium for the return of Barclays Premier League football on Saturday.