Payet doubles up as clouds hang over McClaren
JUST AS he had after his previous meeting with Slaven Bilic, Newcastle manager Steve McClaren ended the night with his head in his hands. The last time the pair clashed, England’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 were ended by Croatia as McClaren suffered the most humiliating night of his career — and his last as an international manager. This time Bilic had his number again and the Hammers cruised to victory over hapless Newcastle. That fateful night in November 2007, when England lost 3-2 at Wembley, saw McClaren dubbed the Wally with the Brolly. At least the heavy rain that had engulfed east London subsided before kick-off last night. Had the downpour continued, McClaren might have faced another raft of embarrassing puns this morning as his side slumped to the bottom of the Barclays Premier League. Newcastle were forced to walk the last part of their journey to Upton Park because of heavy traffic. McClaren wasn’t impressed, and his mood was about to get worse. The euphoric wins at Arsenal and Liverpool have deflected attention from West Ham’s grim start to the season at Upton Park — defeats against Leicester and Bournemouth. It was hardly the way West Ham fans had envisaged the start of their final season at the Boleyn. What they had hoped for was much more like the sort of slick finishing that showed why Dimitri Payet has earned rave reviews. Receiving Mark Noble’s pass on the edge of the box in the ninth minute, Payet clinically stroked home with the inside of his boot to put Bilic’s men ahead. McClaren, whose side were without a victory before this encounter, must have been fearing the worst. It was turning into a Payet super-show and the 28year-old extended West Ham’s advantage three minutes into the second half. Victor Moses, who was having a promising debut, powered a shot off the underside of the bar after a strong run past Haidara and Payet did the rest, expertly volleying the rebound past Tim Krul. The finish was far from easy but Payet kept his eyes fixed firmly on the ball as it dropped and his technique didn’t let him down. West Ham looked more likely to extend their lead as the Magpies toiled. Aaron Cresswell ruffled the side netting with a sweetly struck free-kick after Noble was booked. Diafro Sakho and Payet wasted possession in good positions as the Hammers remained in control of proceedings. Indeed, the lack of fight from Newcastle will be a worry for McClaren. Lose at home to Watford this weekend and those ‘wally’ jibes may return to haunt the Magpies manager.