Trevor Sinclair has praised Michail Antonio on Twitter for passing to Said Benrahma when presented a chance to score his record Premier league goal for West Ham against Leicester.
Antonio became the Hammers’ all-time top-scorer in the Premier League era on Monday night with a brace over the Foxes. Brendan Rodgers’ side made the 31-year-old wait for his record-setting 48th strike, before soon snagging his double within four minutes.
His goals took the forward above Paulo Di Canio in the Irons’ records, and will now seek the half-century. Antonio will get a chance for number 50 and beyond against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Yet may have reached the figure already after a spirited game against Leicester.
No player for either West Ham or Leicester took more shots on Monday than Antonio, who attempted seven, per WhoScored. He directed a game-high four on target, too, but Sinclair also took note of his decision to pass to Benrahma.
While still in search of his record goal, Antonio seized on Caglar Soyuncu’s careless pass to Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. But rather than try his luck, Antonio lifted his head and found Benrahma. The Algerian rushing into the box to score into the bottom corner.
“Wooooo Benrahma,” an excited Sinclair jotted on Twitter in celebration of the winger’s goal against Leicester. “Antonio so unselfish, deserves his record taking goal.”
Unselfish Antonio shines in West Ham win over Leicester
Antonio may have felt that Monday was not going to be his night in the first-half, despite an energetic display leading the West Ham attack against Leicester. He had several chances to strike his 48th Premier League goal in claret and blue, but each went to waste.
Eventually, though, he capped his display by scoring in the 80th-minute as fans chanted ‘ole’ around the ground. Antonio then added some extra polish to an already sparkling night with his brace, to go with his earlier assist.
Benrahma may have forgiven Antonio for trying his luck after intercepting Soyuncu’s pass. But the forward chose to be unselfish, which proved to be the right decision, and earned Sinclair’s praise. Along with later receiving the plaudits of his manager, David Moyes.
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