2014/15 Season Review - August

West Ham TV continue their monthly review of the 2014/15 season with the big kick-off and yet more summer signings
After completing an action-packed pre-season schedule, West Ham United went into the 2014/15 season in confident mood and produced a fine opening-day Barclays Premier League display against Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground, only for Mark Noble’s missed penalty and Eric Dier’s last-gasp goal to condemn the hosts to a harsh defeat.

The game also marked competitive debuts for summer signings Aaron Cresswell, Cheikhou Kouyate and substitute Enner Valencia.

West Ham bounced back to form with a fantastic 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace, with another new boy, Mauro Zarate, and Stewart Downing scoring beauties and Carlton Cole completing the Selhurst Park success with his first goal of the campaign.

Yet another new boy, Senegal striker Diafra Sakho, then marked his first start with a wonderful header against Sheffield United, only for the Blades to knock the home side out of the Capital One Cup on penalties following Winston Reid’s unfortunate own-goal.

The opening month of the campaign ended with another disappointing defeat at the Boleyn Ground, this time in the Barclays Premier League at the hands of Ronald Koeman’s high-flying Southampton.

Off the pitch, West Ham continued to bolster their ranks with the captures of Alex Song on a season-long loan from Barcelona and France international Morgan Amalfitano from Marseille on a permanent basis.