How West Ham have exploited weaknesses at set-pieces

West Ham United’s coaching team deserve praise for their set-piece work this season.

The Hammers lead the way with 15 goals from corners and wide free-kicks, with their success coming because of meticulous planning, and variety.

David Moyes and his staff have dismissed the notion that it is useful to mix up dead-ball deliveries with left and right-footers, and have instead given responsibility to the most consistent takers.

Every successful corner West Ham have put into the box this term has come from the left foot of either Aaron Cresswell or Jarrod Bowen.

*After 29 matches

Three of West Ham's set-piece strikes have come from quickly taken free-kicks that have caught the opposition off-guard.

It feels increasingly rare to see teams restarting immediately with an unrehearsed piece of play, but Moyes’ side buck the trend.

Pablo Fornals released Bowen from the halfway line to score from a quick free-kick at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers in September.

In a 3-0 win at Leicester City, Michail Antonio quickly switched play to Cresswell, who delivered a cross while Leicester's defence were readjusting, enabling Antonio to finish with a header.

During their 3-3 draw with Arsenal, again West Ham's quick thinking from a dead-ball situation (below) caught their opponents out. With four Gunners players turning their backs, Jesse Lingard was able to set up Bowen to score.

West Ham have scored six goals from left-footed inswinging corners this term, and three from outswingers from the other side.

Cresswell and Bowen’s deliveries have been outstanding on both flanks.

Both players have consistently put the ball into the right area, whipping it in at pace, usually along the line of the six-yard box.

When a corner is delivered at speed with a low enough trajectory, it is difficult for goalkeepers to come out and claim the cross.

Top teams for set-pieces

*After 29 matches

One of the most impressive aspects of West Ham’s set-piece prowess has been the way they make room for themselves inside the six-yard box.

When they are being marked man-to-man, they are excellent at freeing their players from groups.

Against Aston Villa, Angelo Ogbonna deliberately peeled away from a congested three-man huddle that initially set off towards the near post.

The aim of this pre-planned move was to isolate full-back Matt Targett at the far post, and as soon as John McGinn was drawn along by the pack, West Ham were able to capitalise.

Ogbonna's goal v Villa

We saw a similar distraction technique at Elland Road, when West Ham again had the intention of getting Ogbonna in a 1v1 situation at the far post, this time from a wide free-kick.

Facing a man-to-man marking set-up, a row of five West Ham players ran together diagonally towards the near post, with Ogbonna then adjusting his run to stay in line with the far post.

This broke him away from the pack to score with a free header.

Exposing specific weaknesses

West Ham adjust their strategies based on the type of defensive styles they face.

At home against Brighton & Hove Albion, a side that set up with two clear zonal marking lines, Tomas Soucek cleverly exposed the holes between defenders.

Delaying his run, Soucek waited for Ogbonna and Sebastien Haller to occupy the first two players before arcing a run through the gap that had been manufactured.

With a clear run to attack another accurate Cresswell cross, he was always favourite to outjump Brighton’s static secondary line along the six-yard box.

Moyes and his staff also exposed a weakness in Manchester United’s zonal marking.

From this Cresswell outswinger, the target area was a patch of empty space behind Paul Pogba at the far post.

Correctly guessing Alex Telles and Pogba might ball-watch, Soucek ghosted in alone to tap home from Declan Rice's near-post flick.

Conclusion

First and foremost, West Ham have the right personnel to profit regularly from set-pieces.

Cresswell and Bowen are extremely reliable takers, while inside the box the Hammers are blessed with a lot of height and aerial prowess.

When you combine those strengths with thoughtful planning and a range of training-ground routines tailored to hurt each opponent, it is a recipe for great success.

By spending time devising plans and working on them, West Ham’s focus on dead-ball situations has given them several goals during 2020/21.

And the extra points gained have given them a wonderful opportunity to qualify for Europe.