t took West Ham till May and the go to of Manchester United to report their first assertion Premier League victory over one of many division’s huge boys final season, because the Hammers’ fame as nose-bloodiers evaporated within the midst of their relegation scrap.
This time round, although, David Moyes’s aspect have rediscovered the method on the first time of asking, charging to a 3-1 victory over London rivals Chelsea right here on the London Stadium, regardless of Nayef Aguerd’s purple card halfway by way of the second half.
The hosts have been lucky to go in stage on the break, and never solely as a result of Enzo Fernandez noticed a poor penalty saved by Alphonse Areola. In the second-half, although, this was extra just like the resilient West Ham of outdated, a dogged defensive rearguard after which a brutal breakaway purpose from Michail Antonio edging the Irons forward earlier than Lucas Paqueta’s late penalty on the finish of a turbulent couple of days for the Brazilian secured all three factors.
More of that will likely be wanted this time period. The Premier League panorama has modified for the reason that Irons have been combating for high six finishes solely a few seasons in the past, with not simply the standard Big Six but in addition the likes of Newcastle, Brighton and maybe even Aston Villa boasting extra outright high quality of their squads. It might not at all times be fairly, however West Ham’s greatest probability of competing for now's to maintain doing issues their means.
It took James Ward-Prowse only one set-piece supply to trigger havoc in Chelsea’s defence and solely two to register his first help on his West Ham debut.
Robert Sanchez’s sharp work nearly denied Tomas Soucek the possibility to present the house aspect the lead, however minutes later the brand new signing’s back-post nook was met by Aguerd, benefitting from some abysmal Chelsea defending to nod dwelling.
West Ham’s set-piece prowess was a key part of Moyes’s success throughout the first two seasons of his upon his return to the membership however light badly within the first two-thirds of final season, the Hammers among the many least productive groups within the division till a late upturn that coincided with their push away from the drop.
In that sense, a transfer for Ward-Prowse at all times appeared a no brainer following Southampton’s relegation and already it appears to be like like paying off.
Alphonse Areola has needed to bide his time to develop into West Ham’s Premier League No1 after two years as deputy to Lukasz Fabianski and the Pole’s punchy interview this week, through which he criticised the dealing with of his dropping, has solely elevated the scrutiny on his successor.
Many of a claret and blue persuasion will little doubt have been eager for Fabianski when Tomas Soucek dived in needlessly on Raheem Sterling to reward Chelsea their first-half spot-kick, the veteran boasting an excellent penalty report.
Areola’s in contrast is abysmal, his final save coming four-and-a-half years in the past. Since becoming a member of the Hammers, he has been crushed by all 4 penalties he has confronted in regulation time in addition to all ten (!!) in final season’s League Cup shootout defeat to Blackburn. His cease right here to maintain out Enzo Fernandez, then, was well timed, backed up by an excellent reflex cease to disclaim substitute Noni Madueke in stoppage time moments earlier than Paqueta’s clincher. It is early days, however Moyes’s succession plan appears to be like vindicated.
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