Craig Dawson was relieved to get the injury-time equaliser for West Ham against Leicester City for more than one reason.
The central defender admitted the goal was not the 'cleanest' but was thrilled to net in such dramatic fashion and rescue a point for the Hammers late on. Dawson was also pleased as it was his first of the season and came from a move the team had been working on in training.
Dawson did not connect as he had wished with the ball as it came off his upper arm instead of head but it ended up in the back of the net to spark pandemonium in the away end.
The defender and his Hammers teammates did not celebrate with quite as much gusto as the supporters as Dawson knew there was a question mark over its legitimacy and only after a VAR check ruled it legal did the players let their true feelings show.
The move saw Jarrod Bowen cross in a pinpoint delivery for Dawson to attack but there were more than just those two involved.
As Bowen crossed the ball both Michail Antonio and Issa Diop were crowding goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and occupying centre-backs Caglar Soyuncu and Jannik Vestergaard leaving Dawson a free run at the ball with only Daniel Amartey for company.
Dawson easily saw off the Foxes defender and had a running jump on Vestergaard who had freed himself of Antonio but not in time to challenge the Hammers goalscorer effectively.
"It was obviously a great ball in from Jarrod and it’s something we’ve been working on in the week and luckily it counted. It wasn’t the cleanest was it?" Dawson told WHUTV.
"But it was great to get the goal and it was great work from the lads and hopefully we can improve on that performance.
"I haven’t scored as many as I’d like to, so it’s something we’ve been working on on the training pitch and hopefully we can get some more."
With West Ham needing a goal to grab a draw Dawson was thrown up front in a desperate bid to salvage a point from a game his side had taken the lead in. The defender was happy to oblige but added he would rather the desperate measure was not required.
"It was that period in the game when we needed a little bit more upfront and a bit more height and it seemed to work well," he added. "I’d rather be 3-0 up but if it’s needed then I’ll definitely go up there."
