Premier League winners and losers: United keep up the pressure
By Ty Finch
Loser: Slaven Bilic
West Ham’s owners gave Bilic two games to save his job after the embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Brighton last week.
His team were down by two goals at halftime to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup in the first of those two matches, and things didn’t look good for the Croatian manager. Then, suddenly, the Hammers looked like a rejuvenated squad in the second half. Andre Ayew scored twice in five minutes and Angelo Ogbonna scored the winner in the 70th minute to cap a stunning comeback, and possibly saved Bilic’s job.
Then Saturday’s contest against Crystal Palace came along, and West Ham went 2-0 up in the first half. However, Bilic was on the wrong end of the second half comeback this time. Luka Milivojevic slotted home a penalty in the 50th minute to bring the game to a one-goal margin, and Palace were peppering the opposition with shots and attacking play. It was only a matter of time before one of the chances was converted; it just took all the time allotted. Wilfried Zaha equalized in the 97th minute — with almost the last kick of the ball — after a critical giveaway from West Ham’s Michail Antonio in the dying moments.
Bilic was justifiably distraught. The cameras captured him walking off the pitch shaking his head back and forth, seemingly unable to take in what just occurred. As of now, Bilic has not been sacked, but there can’t be many more games like this if he wants to continue. For now, he can hope a win in the Carabao Cup and a draw in the Premier League was enough to temporarily save his job.