By Tony Hughes
West Ham played their first Premier League game in their new stadium on Sunday, beating Bournemouth 1-0 and registering their first three points of the new campaign.
Fans were left disappointed until the 84th minute, when Michail Antonio met a cross at the far post and headed in to score the Hammers’ first league goal at the London Stadium.
This followed Bournemouth’s Harry Arter getting a red card in the 77th minute after dragging back Cheikhou Kouyate on the halfway line.
Jonathan Calleri missed a glorious chance with the last kick of the game when he was put through one-on-one. Calleri picked up the ball on the halfway line and ran into the 18-yard box before putting his shot wide.
The late goal brought some cheer to Hammers fans after a pretty miserable weekend that saw striker Andy Carroll join the Hammers extensive injury list. The big forward is out until October after picking up a knee injury in the Europe tie with Astra Giurgiu on Thursday.
The match at the new London Stadium attracted an official crowd of 56,977.
RECORD: Today's attendance is a Club-record 56,977! Thank you for your magnificent support! [1-0] ⚒ #WHUBOU pic.twitter.com/7I2Q42zGVv
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 21, 2016
Football fans around the country watched the game live on Sky Sports, and the overriding consensus was that the London Stadium lacked atmosphere and some seats were too far from the pitch.
Even West Ham fans have yet to be won over, but it’s early days and the Hammers hierarchy will be keen to settle in and start working on the atmosphere. Here’s a selection of fans’ reactions during the game.
I've never been in a stadium as noisy as West Ham's When it was the Olympics. It's was awesome. Good match under lights will be bouncing
— mikenumber5 (@MikeNumber5) August 21, 2016
There are astronauts on the iss closer to the pitch than some of the westham fans at the Olympic stadium
— Ian B (@Dalejake) August 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/clairemcburnie/status/767394154456424448
West Ham's new stadium looks a bit too spacious, fans used to be closest to the pitch, now bloody miles away! #WHUFC ⚒
— Mike Sheen (@sheenaaay) August 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/amyymart1n/status/767393089296228352
Watching first West Ham match at new Olympic Stadium Grounds. Wow..so different from Upton …but still the Irons!!! @WestHamUtd #coyi
— James Boxall (@JamesGIS) August 21, 2016
West Ham's new stadium is too Peng 👅
— Vote Labour 🔴 (@MrHinxx) August 21, 2016
Seeing West Ham in the Olympic Stadium on TV is weird. I feel like I'm watching a game at Wembley! #SuperSunday
— Craig Rennie🏴 (@CraigRennie_) August 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/whufcphotos/status/767386314815791104
West Ham’s next match at the London Stadium is on Thursday when they attempt to progress in the Europa League by finishing off Astra Giurgiu. The Hammers drew 1-1 in Romania but should have made the tie safe. Their next Premier League home game is on 10 September against Watford.
In other West Ham team news co-owner David Gold has said he’s never seen anything like this in 23 years of football.
