Match ends, West Ham United 3, Sheffield United 0.
Declan Rice’s well-executed penalty and Issa Diop’s header helped lift West Ham into fourth place as Sheffield United’s Premier League survival hopes suffered a significant setback.
Chris Basham’s lunge on Jesse Lingard helped gift the Hammers, who climb above Liverpool and Chelsea, a sixth win in 10 top-flight matches.
Rice made no mistake from the spot before Diop, who was forced off with a head injury in his previous game, doubled the lead from Aaron Cresswell’s corner.
Substitute Ryan Fredericks added a third deep into stoppage time.
Sheffield United, 14 points from safety with 14 games left, went close to equalising at 1-0 only for Lukasz Fabianski to produce an outstanding save to keep out David McGoldrick’s deflected header.
West Ham had been awarded an early penalty when Craig Dawson was fouled by Enda Stevens and referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot, but after a VAR consultation the decision was overturned.
Chelsea will move back above West Ham if they beat Newcastle in the 20:00 GMT kick-off, but this was another accomplished performance from David Moyes’ side.
Is Europe beckoning for the Hammers?
West Ham’s phenomenal form after last season’s struggle shows no sign of going off the boil.
Having spent last term locked in a relegation battle, the Hammers are now in a Champions League spot, two points clear of champions Liverpool with 14 games remaining.
When Harry Redknapp’s class of 1998-99 finished fifth in English football’s top flight, they accumulated 57 points.
Victory over the Blades moved Moyes’ team to 42 points with another 42 to play for, and they have to be considered serious contenders for Europe next season.
Their latest win was down to one moment of madness and one moment of brilliance – Basham’s clumsy foul on Lingard and Fabianski’s save to deny McGoldrick at 1-0.
Fabianski had a busier game than he would have liked while at the other end Aaron Ramsdale denied West Ham after Vladimir Coufal found himself with just the keeper to beat.
But Fredericks sealed another polished team display with the third after a lovely assist from fellow substitute Said Benrahma.
With forward Michail Antonio due back from injury, West Ham look in decent shape with the business end of the season looming.
Blades look doomed
Sheffield United have shown signs of fight in recent weeks with victories over Manchester United, Newcastle and West Brom.
But they can have few complaints about the outcome at London Stadium.
They were once again authors of their own downfall, Basham’s clear-cut foul on Lingard – and Rice’s resulting penalty – undoing their bright start.
McGoldrick was lively but after Diop’s header made it 2-0, the Blades then allowed Fredericks time and space to drill home the third goal.
On a night of few positives, defender John Egan left the pitch with his leg in a protected brace.
Barring a great escape, a 19th league defeat leaves the Blades facing a return to the Championship.
Making a point – the stats
- Only in 1983-84 (43) and 1985-86 (48) have West Ham had more points on the board at this stage of a top-flight campaign.
- No side has failed to score in more Premier League games this season than Sheffield United (12, level with Burnley).
- West Ham have won 19 points in the Premier League in 2021 – only Manchester City (27 points) have accumulated more in the calendar year.
- The Blades have conceded the first goal of the game in 18 Premier League matches this season – more than any other side.
- No team has scored more goals from corners in the Premier League this season than West Ham (eight, level with Chelsea).
- Declan Rice’s goal saw West Ham become the 20th and final side to both take and score a Premier League penalty this season.
What’s next?
Sheffield United return to London for a huge game with fellow strugglers Fulham on Saturday (20:00 GMT), before West Ham host Tottenham in a London derby on Sunday (12:00).
Player of the match
LingardJesse Lingard
West Ham United
Squad number11Player nameLingard
Squad number41Player nameRice
Squad number15Player nameDawson
Squad number1Player nameFabianski
Squad number3Player nameCresswell
Squad number23Player nameDiop
Squad number24Player nameFredericks
Squad number28Player nameSoucek
Squad number5Player nameCoufal
Squad number9Player nameBenrahma
Squad number31Player nameJohnson
Squad number20Player nameBowen
Squad number10Player nameLanzini
Squad number16Player nameNoble
Sheffield United
Squad number1Player nameRamsdale
Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrick
Squad number22Player nameAmpadu
Squad number10Player nameSharp
Squad number12Player nameEgan
Squad number23Player nameOsborn
Squad number15Player nameJagielka
Squad number20Player nameBogle
Squad number6Player nameBasham
Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
Squad number3Player nameStevens
Squad number7Player nameLundstram
Squad number16Player nameNorwood
Line-ups
West Ham
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Fabianski
- 23Diop
- 15Dawson
- 3Cresswell
- 5Coufal
- 28Soucek
- 41Rice
- 31JohnsonSubstituted forFredericksat 90+2′minutes
- 10LanziniSubstituted forNobleat 63′minutes
- 11LingardSubstituted forBenrahmaat 82′minutes
- 20Bowen
Substitutes
- 9Benrahma
- 14Alves
- 16Noble
- 18Fornals
- 24Fredericks
- 25Martin
- 45Odubeko
- 54Coventry
- 75Baptiste
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Ramsdale
- 6BashamBooked at 39mins
- 12EganSubstituted forJagielkaat 85′minutes
- 22Ampadu
- 20Bogle
- 7LundstramBooked at 87mins
- 16NorwoodSubstituted forMcBurnieat 62′minutes
- 23Osborn
- 3Stevens
- 17McGoldrick
- 10Sharp
Substitutes
- 2Baldock
- 9McBurnie
- 13Lowe
- 14Burke
- 15Jagielka
- 18Foderingham
- 24Brewster
- 29Bryan
- 35Maguire
Live Text
Second Half ends, West Ham United 3, Sheffield United 0.
Goal! West Ham United 3, Sheffield United 0. Ryan Fredericks (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Saïd Benrahma.
Foul by David McGoldrick (Sheffield United).
Mark Noble (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. John Lundstram (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Enda Stevens.
Substitution, West Ham United. Ryan Fredericks replaces Ben Johnson.
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Tomas Soucek.
Attempt blocked. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Jayden Bogle.
John Lundstram (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by John Lundstram (Sheffield United).
Ben Johnson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Phil Jagielka replaces John Egan because of an injury.
Substitution, West Ham United. Saïd Benrahma replaces Jesse Lingard.
Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt saved. Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ben Osborn with a cross.
Foul by Billy Sharp (Sheffield United).
Craig Dawson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Billy Sharp (Sheffield United).