Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara were left blown away by West Ham goalkeeper Lukazs Fabianski after he made a superb save in the 2-0 defeat to Watford at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Poland international may have conceded a penalty in the first-half, but he showed just why he was a top summer addition for the Hammers when he denied Abdoulaye Doucoure from point-blank range after the break.
Sky Sports pair Kamara and Stelling were amazed by Fabianski’s save, especially because the shot was fired at him from such a close area.
“[Gerard] Deloufeu played the ball into Doucoure eight yards out and he catches it brilliantly,” said Kamara on Sky Sports News’ Gillette Soccer Saturday [04:25pm]. “He hammers it towards goal.
“And the reflexes of the goalkeeper at such a point-blank [range] were brilliant.”
Stelling added that it was an “absolutely sensational save” by Fabianski.
OPINION
Fabianski has been in such good form for West Ham this season. It was a shame that he had to concede a goal via Troy Deeney’s penalty in the first-half because the former Arsenal and Swansea shot-stopper deserved a clean sheet. What a bargain Fabianski was in the summer. For just £7million, Manuel Pellegrini added a seriously good goalkeeper to his side. Fabianski may have been relegated with the Swans but he could not do a lot about that with an awful defence in front of him. With Fabian Balbuena injured now, Fabianski may now have to cope with another poor defence in front of him because Angelo Ogbonna is likely to stand in for the Paraguayan if he is out of action for an extended period. West Ham fans will be praying that’s not the case, and Fabianski will too because they have been quite solid in recent weeks with Balbuena and Issa Diop in front of the Polish keeper.