HAMMERS BOSS GETS PERFECT PRESENT

points five minutes later to lift the gloom at the Hammers after they opened their league campaign with three defeats. Days after co-owner David Sullivan sparked a public row with Bilic over their transfer targets, the manager’s attacking selection and decision to bring on sub Ayew paid off against Huddersfield. He picked a side featuring the returning Andy Carroll, Javier Hernandez and Michail Antonio. Huddersfield boss David Wagner (right) could only watch as West Ham dominated the first half, but the closest they came to opening the scoring was when Hernandez hit the bar. Terriers fans taunted Bilic with chants of, “You’re getting sacked in the morning” when his decision to replace Hernandez with Ayew in the 64th minute was booed by the home support.

But Bilic had the last laugh when Obiang’s shot took a huge deflection and Ayew sealed it.

Carroll said: “All the lads are behind him and to get the win on his birthday is even better. It was very important.”