West Ham United’s staff queued up to embrace Sébastien Haller at the final whistle and every hug, high five and pat on the back spoke volumes. The French centre-forward has his critics but, for once, he had succeeded in silencing them thanks to the most eye-catching of winning goals which left Sheffield United still seeking their first
Premier League win of the season and having collected only one point since September.
At kick off, the sky above Bramall Lane was blue and the sun bright but, on a late November day demanding winter gloves, boots and scarves, it carried precious little warmth. Indeed, Lukasz Fabianski was probably grateful for the early call to arms which necessitated him saving George Baldock’s third-minute half-volley with an outstretched foot after David Moyes’s defence – and Arthur Masuaku in particular – had been deceived by John Egan’s superb long ball.