Cagey would perhaps be the best way to describe the opening stages at Turf Moor, but it was basement side Burnley who made the first move towards breaking the deadlock when Jay Rodriguez’s delivery was inches away from the studs of Zeki Amdouni sliding in at the far post.
That seemed to spur Burnley on a little, and they were soon working Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal when Luca Koleosho’s effort forced him to make a smart near-post stop.
The Hammers’ spells on top were few and far between and they could probably count themselves a touch fortunate not to have been behind at the break after they survived a VAR scare when Koleosho went down in the area under a Vladimír Coufal challenge.
Despite the replays suggesting VAR had made a gaffe, justice was served just minutes into the second half when the same duo was again involved, with Koleosho again going down and this time a penalty being awarded. It was Burnley’s hometown boy Rodriguez on hand to shoulder the responsibility from the spot, coolly stroking home down the middle.
West Ham didn’t respond particularly well to falling behind and were fortunate not to be two goals down straight after, as a stunning Areola save denied Zeki Amdouni his first-ever Turf Moor goal. David Moyes’ men were visibly rattled by the Clarets’ opener and he turned to his teenage sensation Divin Mubama for inspiration as he introduced him off the bench.
But it was one of his old guard who nearly grabbed a leveller when Kurt Zouma forced a solid save out of James Trafford.
Moyes' change eventually bore fruit four minutes from time when Mubama nicked in at the front post to turn home and break Burnley hearts.
Although it went down as a Dara O’Shea own goal, it was the incentive they needed to snatch a winner when Tomáš Souček powered home at the far post to leave Burnley rooted to the foot of the table, heaping even more pressure on Vincent Kompany.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Tomáš Souček (West Ham United)
