West Ham pulls off another comeback to beat Burnley
West Ham United won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since February as it came from behind to down fellow struggler Burnley 3-2.
Having registered a rare home victory over Newcastle United last time out, the Hammers repeated the trick at London Stadium to ease the pressure on manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
It is a result that moves West Ham level on points with 17th-placed Burnley at the wrong end of the Premier League table, but it was a performance that showed plenty of fight.
After going close in the opening exchanges, Zian Flemming rewarded Burnley's early dominance in the 35th minute with a fine header into the bottom-right corner from Lesley Ugochukwu's teasing delivery into the area.
But the Clarets' lead lasted just nine minutes as Callum Wilson nodded in his second goal for West Ham after seeing Crysencio Summerville's shot deflect into his path.
A much-improved West Ham returned after the interval and pressed for a second, with Summerville and Jarrod Bowen going close in quick succession for Nuno's team.
However, as he did against Newcastle, Soucek emerged from the bench to score in the 77th minute with a chested finish into the net after Martin Dubravka failed to grasp Lucas Paqueta's cross shot into the box.
The Burnley goalkeeper was again at fault for West Ham's third, this time spilling Soucek's shot from distance, which saw fellow sub Kyle Walker-Peters profit as he slid the ball into the net ahead of Bowen.
Scott Parker's team did, however, make it a nervy final few moments after taking advantage of another late goalkeeping error.
In the seventh minute of second-half stoppage-time, Alphonse Areola failed to gather Hannibal Mejbri's shot, allowing Josh Cullen to steal in, but it proved too little, too late for Burnley.
While Nuno was delighted with the upturn in form, he insisted his team has plenty of challenges ahead.
"I am happy for the boys and our fans. This was a massive game for us," he said.
"The goal we conceded, the reaction was good. We have proved we want to change things, we want to be strong characters. The boys on the pitch are showing this slowly.
"I think it's a small step, another day where we have achieved something at London Stadium which means a lot. But we will not get carried away."
Soucek now has 38 goals in the Premier League for the Hammers, moving alongside Patrick Berger as the joint-most for a Czech player in the competition.
He began the match on the bench but still made a telling contribution as a substitute with a goal and an assist, and the midfielder is committed to helping his side in whichever way he can.
He said: "I would love to be starting but I do for the team whatever.
"I am so happy we have won at home, we can go into the international break with a great feeling because we are building something.
"We waited for the first win and then I could see the whole training ground is different. Everyone can see why are building something. It's a really good reflection today, as well.
Burnley boss Scott Parker was left disappointed, believing his side was in with a real chance of victory despite the end result.
"I thought the game was there for us to win," Parker said.
"I felt we could try and change the game from the bench. We've lost the game on two set-plays and then the third goal we were chasing a bit.
Burnley has conceded at least twice in each of its past seven Premier League away games, its longest run since its first 11 on the road in the competition between August 2009 and January 2010, and Parker admitted his side's defensive lapses are concerning.
"In crucial moments there was definitely some switching off. We fell a little bit short in certain moments today," he said.
































