- Staying tight at the back and keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet was key to Saturday’s impressive performance, said Winston Reid
- The New Zealand international returned to the starting XI after a four-game absence due to injury
- As skipper at London Stadium, the centre-back was solid throughout alongside fellow defenders James Collins and Jose Fonte
Keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet was crucial to West Ham United’s impressive performance as they drew 0-0 with Everton at London Stadium on Saturday, according to defender Winston Reid.
The Hammers shut out the in-form Toffees and in turn prevented the Belgian forward finding the back of the net against the Hammers for the tenth consecutive match.
And Reid, returning to the starting XI as captain having missed four matches with a groin problem, played a vital role in limiting Lukaku to just one attempt on goal in east London.
Alongside Jose Fonte and James Collins as part of a three-man central defence, the New Zealand international, solid throughout, was pleased with the way his team dealt with one of Europe’s top strikers.
He said: “With a player like Lukaku, you have to keep tight to him and if he can’t turn, then he can’t score and it’s going to be difficult for him. You try and keep him away from goal – it’s pretty boring but it’s simple and effective!
“You have got to be on him when he’s in the box and I think we did well today. Jose and Ginge were great at the back but also people in front were great; Harv [Nordtveit] put in a really good shift and that was good to see.
“But Everton are more than just Lukaku, they have a good team. It was first about working out where they’re good, and that’s through the middle of the pitch.
“They have good combinations and we minimised them to just a few chances. There weren’t many, and it was that type of game.”
West Ham dominated throughout on Saturday, going close in the first half through Jonathan Calleri and Cheikhou Kouyate before Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho – making his London Stadium debut – worried the visiting defence in the second.
With a player like Lukaku, you try and keep him away from goal – it’s pretty boring but it’s simple and effective!
Winston Reid
“We’ve had a lot of injuries so first and foremost, we had to stop them scoring,” the centre back continued. “Then, going forward, we had to get Manu [Lanzini] and Dre [Ayew], those types of players on the ball and try to get into good positions.
“I guess that final ball wasn’t always there today and the sharpness, but these games earlier in the season we would have lost and we’re pleased to have come away with the point after working hard, which is what you always want.
“It was a decent performance from the team. As long as we keep up this good work then we can get the points that we need from now until the end of the season.”
Saturday’s draw puts the Hammers on 38 points in the Premier League and Reid hopes the side can continue to perform and put points on the board as the campaign draws to a close.
“We need to finish the season strongly. Things haven’t been easy this season, and it’s not an excuse, but the new stadium, we had a big turnaround in the squad…we will learn from these things next season.
“It gives us experience. We have a young squad and I’m sure the young players will learn from these things.
“It was good to be back out there today. I had just three or four days’ training with the team so I was never going to be 100 per cent fit, but the two old boys next to me did all my running, so that was nice!”