Perez cashes in after Ralls is the fall guy
FORGOTTEN striker Lucas Perez gave West Ham back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in nearly two years.
Neil Warnock’s Cardiff were sent packing as the former Arsenal marksman climbed off the bench to score twice in five second-half minutes.
The strikes were Perez’s first in the league since he netted at Bournemouth for the Gunners in January 2017 – a gap of 700 days.
Coincidentally, that month was the last time West Ham won two in a row, beating Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.
The move from boss Manuel Pellegrini to snap up Perez may just have been an inspired one as the club head into the busy Christmas period.
Andy Carroll made a second-half substitute appearance, his first for three months, but the world and his wife knows the Hammers sadly cannot rely on his fitness.
What they can bank on is confidence being sky high after this win on the back of Saturday’s 3-0 thumping of Newcastle.
Injuries, inconsistency and politics have all served to pull the rug from under West Ham every time they have appeared to be turning a corner – and Cardiff, fresh from pulling off a huge upset against Wolves, proved stubborn opponents in the first half.
Neil Etheridge saved well in the 20th minute when Angelo Ogbonna powered in a header from a corner. Sean Morrison did well to block an effort from Marko Arnautovic and soon it was Cardiff’s turn to threaten. Lukas Fabianski did well to parry a stinging, long-range drive from Victor Camarasa before Arnautovic bundled into the back of Junior Hoilett after 36 minutes. Penalty.
But Joe Ralls will have nightmares about blowing the chance for Cardiff to take the lead. His spot-kick was so weak that Fabianski, below, was able to hold on.
Arnautovic went off a minute later with a suspected hamstring injury – but enter Perez. Four minutes into the second half Robert Snodgrass released him and the 30-year-old Spaniard made no mistake.
Four minutes later Mark Noble started off a move down the left which ended with Arthur Masuaku finding Perez who fired home. Michael Antonio made it 3-0 after 61 minutes, guiding in a header from Snodgrass’s corner before substitute Josh Murphy nodded in a consolation in added time.
It is way too soon to be writing off Warnock’s side. Pellegrini’s in-form West Ham, however, are just getting started.