HALLERLUJAH!
West Ham forward ends 199-day goal drought
WEST Ham did not demolish transfer records in the hope Sebastian Haller and Felipe Anderson might help them navigate awkward looking cup ties against thirdtier opposition.
These were the big-money stars meant to propel the club towards the next level and a future in the Champions League.
Horizons have altered, however, and their paymasters — the Davids, Sullivan and Gold — will have been grateful for the small mercies of goals to beat Charlton in this Carabao Cup second round duel between East London neighbours at war with their owners.
West Ham took the honours with some degree of comfort thanks to two goals by Haller in the first half and a third, scored late on by Anderson.
Moyes made 10 changes to the team which started the Premier League campaign with a dismal defeat at home against Newcastle. Only Issa Diop survived to join a parade of expensive misfits and fringe players. The home side were soon in control.
Haller opened the scoring midway through the first half, tapping a simple finish into an empty net after Andriy Yarmolenko burrowed into the penalty area and supplied a low cross. Charlton’s defenders claimed an offside but referee Andre Marriner, who had already ruled out an effort by Yarmolenko, was prepared to let this one stand.
For Haller, it ended a long wait of 199 days for a goal and his second of the tie soon followed.
Again, it was created on the left, this time by Robert Snodgrass, who delivered a sublime cross for the £45million striker to climb above centre half Deji Oshilaja and power a header past goalkeeper Ben Amos.
Haller, Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson made for a front three who arrived at the London Stadium for a combined sum of £105m. The collective firepower proved too much for Charlton.
For the visitors, Jonny Williams forced a save from Darren Randolph and Fabian Balbuena almost glanced a header into his own goal.
Yarmolenko missed a chance at the near post and Amos beat out a free-kick from Snodgrass before Anderson scored the third.
Light relief for Moyes — but it is Arsenal next, on Saturday.
Wolves, Leicester, Spurs, Manchester City and Liverpool all follow in a formidable run of league games.