Hammers Sink Struggling Leicester City in Routine Home Win at London Stadium
Hope everyone is safe and well.
I recently completed my 10k race in a little under 55mins, which I am quite pleased about because my training for this race has been very much stop start these last few months. Just when I thought I was getting back into a solid training routine I’d struggle to keep it going and end up missing a few sessions and then feel as if I had lost any progress I’d made previously.
This time of year the weather plays its part and when it’s cold and wet, I managed to get out a few times to run, but its miserable training in such conditions and you feel as if you’re constantly battling to keep up. But despite the last few weeks of missed sessions, I was warming up with all the other competitors outside the London Stadium waiting for the race to start.
I chose the follow the sub 55min pace runner and with my Runna app playing to keep me on track throughout the race, I was pleasantly surprised to see my progress on the route and knew that I could achieve a decent time, at least for me. By the final km I was running faster and managed to cross the line with energy to spare and a sense of achievement, the result of all those weeks of preparation and training.
Potter and his team, have their work cut out for them with the team and despite some fits and starts since his appointment, we are finally seeing some progress across the team with that outstanding away performance against Arsenal in our 0-1 win at the Emirates. The Gunners away seem to be a guaranteed 3 points for us these days, but it was a battling performance that showed the progress the team are making.
Interestingly it was a wonderful team performance without Paqueta, who also missed this home win against the Foxes. It has given Potter the chance to introduce players and tweak the formation and we have had the opportunity to see young Scarles and Ferguson get time on the pitch and prove their worth. But of course, there will be good and bad performances and times when it just doesn’t work and we find ourselves on the end of a frustrating loss. As with my running, as long as there is progress and we are moving in the right direction, which I believe we very much are with Potter, we can cope with some disappointing results.
I believe, as with my personal race time and my strong end towards the finish line, we can expect a strong end the season with a run of form that will leave us excited about what Potter can achieve going forward. Baring in mind of course that Potter was not Sullivan’s first choice and a sudden drop in form and a short run of defeats could see our new gaffer under pressure. As any manager would be given the nature of the Premier League game, but would Sullivan hold his nerve as he has in the past?
I cooked dinner for the family – spicy Vegan swarma wraps with potato wedges and salad, before heading off to the game. I was able to arrive a little earlier than usual and come towards the ground from a different angle. My new camera kit, as I’ve mentioned before, is more powerful than my old 800D and I can push the exposure more with higher ISO and open the aperture to get some better shots in the low light.
I walk around the stadium as usual waiting to meet with my brother. Without the either of the boys with me and I feel I can take more time to stop and observe and carefully scan around for any interesting shots. Although it is a bit hit and miss when the light is this low.
I read some of the comments from previous posts how some of you prefer the atmospheric shots from he action shots of the players during the match and wanted to again push my little nifty 50mm Canon lens. It’s about how far away you can be from a scene and still get a good shot. I quite like this one of the fans checking out the names on the plagues on the floor, the light here works really well I think.
With the bar/ food stall shots, I can immerse myself int he crowd and get some interesting depth of field on the shots, blurring out the fans mingling around and focusing on the people serving or the food sign.
I love this shot of the family arriving to the stadium together for the match. This is the present and future of the clubs fanbase and it’s great to see that season ticket prices are frozen for next season and concessionary rates put back in place. The club didn’t have to take away concessionary rates for younger and older fans, there’s not much finical benefit and the good will of fans goes a very ling way, especially when the team are going though a rough patch of form.
I make my way round to the turnstile and stop and wait to see if there are any shots – to be honest I do tend to just shot away at times just to keep my eye in but also some shots are a matter of chance.
Inside the stadium and walking between the crowd to get to my usual stall for coffee, I again just stand for a bit, almost becoming part of the crowd but with my camera up and ready to take a few shots. This is a nice one of the fans chatting before the match over a few beers.
I’v taken this shot quite a few times, but thought it was worth it again with the light just catching ht eying fans as they walk up and into thew stands. This bit of getting to my seat is something I always enjoy, especially when the stands come in to view and the crowd are making their way to their seats and the team are practicing on the pitch.
Finding a particular fan to focus on, especially someone as excited as this wonderful fan, always makes for some great shots. I love how the image of her is captured on her friends’ mobile screen as well.
The flags come out and as the flag bearers wave them either side of the pitch the music helps generate the atmosphere across the stands and then we have the customary pyrotechnics to final get the crowd ready for the teams to walk onto the pitch.
The fan I’ve highlighted is fully immersed in the atmosphere and I loved this shot of the young fan calling out at James Ward-Prowse name is announced with the player’s image appearing on the large screens either end of the pitch. Love to capture this kind of passion.
Then a team huddle in the Homeside’s half of the pitch before taking their places for the start of the match. Togetherness is a theme that Potter has clearly worked on with the players and you get this increasingly evident on the pitch throughout the games.
The visitors put some early pressure on but despite any forays into our half, they were unable to care out any real chances.
Defensively we looked strong and it was great to see Ward-Prowse back in claret and blue. Tracking back for defensive duties and providing some cover in midfield. It was a very different game to when the Foxes too us apart 3-1 on 3rd December in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge.
Leicester lacked any real purpose upfront and their defensive frailties exposed as Soucek slotted in the loose ball from Kudus initial shot on 21mins – a perfect way for Tomas to celebrate his 30th birthday.
Then Soucek in helping out in defence – he is definitely a favourite player of mine and has been a key part of winning games for us, whether that is crucial goal or a strong presence in midfield and clearing up defensively. I hope he was bale to enjoy his birthday after the match.
This wasn’t the most exciting match and to be honest, if it wasn’t so cold I’d have fallen asleep at times. But they were moments here and there to excite.
We were enjoying plenty of the ball and applied a lot of pressure, although the visitors were not exactly making it hard for us. Then Jarrod Bowen finished off the visitors with a tight shot that deflected off defender Jannik Vestergaard beyond Hermansen and that really seemed to end the match as a competitive contest.
No last minute excitement from a Ward-Prowse free kick and the teams filed off the pitch for half time. I couldn’t believe how bored I felt watching the match as we were winning 2-0!
A chance for a few shots as I catch up with my brother and those around me before settling down for the second half. During the break it’s not so easy to find any real interesting shots, I snap away hoping a few shots may make it into the post.
Fans are roused as the teams return to the pitch and I always look forward to us playing towards the Booby Moore Stand so I can get some decent shots of some of the players.
Scarles continues to impress and its credit to his performances on the pitch that Potter gives him plenty of game time. I managed to get a few shots of him looking confident and getting involved in the play in advanced positions before he was substituted for Emerson on 65mins.
I really like this shot of both Cresswell and Bowen getting involved in the game and pressing high. It has been great to see Bowen back, and of course Cresswell has been a great servant of the club. Could this be his final season with us?
A few tame efforts from the visitors and a great shot here of a fan anxiously watching on as another Leicester chance is easily snuffed out, this time by Areola. Leicester have only managed 21 goals so far this season, less than a goal per game. And you can see why.
Ferguson replaces Kudus on 73mins and he does look exciting. Keen to get involved and take the ball, resting forward and making opportunities – I’m expecting his influence to grow and game time to increase as we see out the closing stages of this season.
Opportunities were few and far between in the second half, but I feel there could be a great relationship between Bowen and Ferguson if they are given time to develop it. Another exciting option for Potter.
And the match finishes with back to back wins for the Hammers after out impressive victory against the Gunners, and a win that puts pressure of Van Nistelrooy, whose side look unlikely to manage another famous escape from relegation.
Celebrations were high after the match as I walked around the stadium to catch some photos of the atmosphere. I lost a few shots of celebrations as the low light made it hard to capture a decent image, but these two came out quite well. Loved the sheer enjoyment in this fans dance and then the three fans together. So glad these came out ok after a bit of editing. The thing is I don’t really get a chance to properly check my shots as you want to capture a moment and so you rely on instinct in making any slight adjustment for exposure and hope for the best.
A couple of fans framed by the Hammers logo – a popular choice for a photo before an after the match and finally, after saying my goodbye’s to my brother I head off home. I usually try and find any last minute interesting shoots, especially using my nifty 50mm lens.
Apologies for the lateness of this post, it’s Ramadan and I tend to focus on other things during this Holy month, so takes a little longer to turn my posts around.
Take care everyone
Dawud
From the Stands 