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Ian Wright blasts ‘poor’ West Ham defensive duo in 3-2 loss against Leeds
Ian Wright has hit out at West Ham duo Issa Diop and Aaron Cresswell in a 3-2 loss against Leeds .
The Hammers could have furthered their top-four credentials with a win against the North Yorkshire side, whom they beat 2-0 in the FA Cup seven days earlier. However, a Jack Harrison hat-trick saw Leeds climb nine points clear of the relegation zone as David Moyes’ side suffered their first loss of 2022.
Wright, who made 22 league appearances for West Ham between 1998/99, was far from impressed with his former side’s defending.
The title-winning striker was particularly critical of Diop and Cresswell when it came to Leeds’ second goal, which came just three minutes after in-form winger Jarrod Bowen drew the Hammers level.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2 he said: “Diop doesn’t even challenge for this, he [Diop] had a poor game today, he did have a poor game.
“They aren’t quite aware of what is around them, Cresswell is not aware of Harrison and he comes round the back of him and nicks the goal.”
“They weren’t the West Ham that I was expecting to see, they just weren’t quite at it today.”
West Ham’s top four hopes
West Ham’s defeat, their first against Leeds since their promotion in 2020, leaves the door open for London rivals Arsenal and Spurs to leapfrog them into Champions League qualification. The North London clubs have at least two games in hand over the Hammers, with their head-to-head clash the latest to be postponed.
The West Ham faithful may fear their dreams of a top-four finish are about to fade and die. However, that is a sign of how far they have come since narrowly avoiding relegation two seasons ago.
Also speaking on the same programme, Danny Murphy said: “I wouldn’t get despondent if I were a West Ham fan.
“Very rarely do you see West Ham or David Moyes’ teams open up like that. It was a bit of a one-off. It might have been tiredness, it might not. But the fact is they’re allowed a bad day.”
‘They’re having a terrific season, these games happen. They’ve set the bar really high.”
Up next for David Moyes’ side is a trip to his former club Manchester United, who are also in a top-four race.