February 22, (THEWILL) — Bournemouth frustrated West Ham United with a goalless draw at London Stadium, denying Nuno Espirito Santo’s side the chance to pull level on points with 17th-place Nottingham Forest. The stalemate leaves West Ham two points adrift of the safety threshold, with the relegation battle tightening.
West Ham controlled much of the opening period without finding a breakthrough. Axel Disasi saw a header kept out by Djordje Petrovic inside the first minute, with his follow-up deflected onto the roof of the net. Crysencio Summerville and Valentin Castellanos both went close, yet the home side could not convert their superiority into a lead.
Bournemouth offered little in the first half but grew considerably more threatening after the interval. Rayan produced a stunning solo run from deep inside his own half, only to bend his shot against the outside of the post. The Cherries’ improved display gave the contest a more competitive character in the closing stages.
West Ham continued to seek a winner through a succession of late opportunities. Castellanos attempted an audacious overhead kick that drifted wide, before substitute Callum Wilson drew a smart stop from Petrovic. Jarrod Bowen then squandered the clearest opening of all, blazing over the bar after being threaded through by Summerville in the final moments.
The dropped points leave West Ham’s top-flight future in the balance. Forest, who sit immediately above them in 17th place, face Liverpool on Sunday, meaning the gap could yet widen before West Ham return to action.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
