West Ham squandered a two-goal lead on their return to the Championship as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Burnley. The Hammers, playing in the second tier for the first time since 2012, were dealt a harsh dose of reality as they were forced to settle for a point against their fellow relegated rivals.
Hammers take early control
Nicky Hayen, taking charge of his first-ever league match as Burnley boss, saw his side slump to a two-goal deficit either side of half time. Max Kilman ghosted in to nod home with a free header on 10 minutes to open the scoring. Manor Solomon, signed from Tottenham earlier this week, was on hand to slam home and double the advantage in the second period, after Mohamdou Kante’s neat work to get to the byline and cross for the Israeli winger.
Flemming leads Burnley fightback
Zian Flemming had had multiple chances to get the hosts level, with most of them coming in the air. He was thwarted by Mads Hermansen on more than one occasion, and he also hit the woodwork with another header. A corner skidded off the Dutchman’s shoulder and Ollie Scarles cleared the goalbound ball off the line, but the former Millwall man finally had his goal from the penalty spot, stroking home after Scarles had felled Marcus Edwards in the area.
The ex-Fortuna Sittard forward then struck again in stoppage time, lashing home after the visitors had failed to clear their lines from an inswinging Burnley corner. Kilman swiped at it, but it fell kindly for Flemming, who buried the opportunity and caused bedlam in the home end.
Point apiece
The two sides were forced to settle for a share of the spoils, and it is back to the drawing board for Nuno Espirito Santo, who will have to prepare for the Irons’ first home game of the campaign against Charlton next weekend.
