Toxic.
West Ham’s troubled season plumbed new depths on Saturday as furious fans took it upon themselves to confront players during the 3-0 defeat to Burnley at the London Stadium.
Goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood (2) ensured that David Moyes’ men were well beaten on the pitch but, not for the first time, fan-related incidents dominated the narrative.
A number of West Ham supporters attempted to invade the pitch during the game, with West Ham captain Mark Noble confronting one after Burnley’s opener in the 66th minute.
Then, after the Clarets struck their second, another pitch invader eluded security and tried to plant a corner flag in the centre-circle.
https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/972517950539337728
The club’s two chairmen, David Sullivan and David Gold, were escorted from their seats before the end of the match as cries of ‘sack the board’ rang out.
Chants of “we’re not West Ham anymore” could also be heard. According to some reports, a female steward was thrown to the floor during a scuffle between fans and stewards.
With unsavoury scenes breaking out in the stands, Burnley invited young West Ham supporters to sit on their bench away from the trouble brewing higher up in a touch of class.
Burnley players gave up their seats on the bench to protect young West Ham fans from fighting fans 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/1yiz6TeYLV
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 10, 2018
It’s a messy, undignified culmination to what has been a deeply tumultuous week for the club. The build-up to Saturday’s game had been marred by a fallout over a cancelled protest against the club’s owners. However, after meeting with Karren Brady, the Real West Ham Fans Action Group, pulled out of the march causing it to be postponed.
Following the game, Moyes said via The Independent: “We want the supporters behind us, since I’ve been here they’ve been really good. But you can’t cross the line and come on the pitch. A lot of my players did well with the way they acted.”
West Ham also released a brief statement.
“West Ham United have immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into the incidents which marred the second half of today’s match and are committed to taking decisive and appropriate action,” it read.
“An emergency meeting has been called with all London Stadium stakeholders. There will be no further comment at this time.”
Here's the current view from the Directors' Box. pic.twitter.com/KRJa2rq0ff
— KUMB.com: West Ham United FC Online (@kumbdotcom) March 10, 2018
The Hammers are 16th in the table on 30 points, but Crystal Palace and Stoke City, both on 27 points in 18th and 19th respectively, have played a game less. Moyes now faces the unenviable task of trying to lift his players for a crucial home game against fellow strugglers Southampton.
Luckily, that is three weeks away, with the FA Cup sixth-round and an international break to come in the intermitting period. Hopefully that will be ample time for the club to pick itself up out of the wreckage. If not, then West Ham face the prospect of playing in front of another deeply toxic crowd at the end of the month.
As for the Burnley game, it was a shameful, regrettable climax to an afternoon that started with a touching tribute to Bobby Moore, in what was the first game since the 25th anniversary of his death.
