Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HAMMERS NOW A TOUR DE FOURTH
DAVID MOYES demanded even more from his players after two-goal Tomas Soucek helped lift West Ham to fourth place – 13 months after they left Selhurst Park as relegation candidates.
This fixture on Boxing Day last season saw Michail Antonio play the day after crashing his Lamborghini dressed as a snowman and Mark Noble having to be separated from team-mate Angelo Ogbonna during another defeat.
Boss Manuel Pellegrini was gone two days later following a run of two wins in 14 games.
The stats under manager Moyes now show six consecutive wins in all competitions and four in a row in the Premier League for the first time since December 2018.
Superb Soucek, who now has eight goals this season, has been crucial in the transformation since his arrival last January.
And Moyes has overseen a cultural change at the club in his second spell, with the Hammers sitting above Liverpool and Spurs.
West Ham last night looked and played like his old Everton team who qualified for the Champions League in 2005.
“I want to be in and around the top,” said Moyes.
“The players are giving me every hope. The players have been exceptional and they want more. I sense that in the dressing room. I have sensed for a while we are getting better.
“But I think we are only scratching the surface. There is still so much more we can do.” The Scot said Soucek reminded him of John Wark for his goalscoring ability and added: “Soucek has been brilliant for us since he came to this country this time last year.”
The Czech international was also enjoying life at the Hammers. “Our dressing room is beautiful and we have so much confidence,” he said. “I say every time it doesn’t matter who scores, I’m just happy to help my team.”
Moyes made seven changes from side that beat League One Doncaster in the FA Cup but it was Palace’s Wilfried Zaha who opened the scoring after only three minutes on his return from injury.
The Ivory Coast winger, who missed Sunday’s defeat at Manchester City, exchanged flicks with Christian Benteke before drilling home his ninth goal of the season from just outside the box.
The lead last only six minutes. A fine pass from Pablo Fornals down the left released Antonio, and his cross with the outside of his right boot was headed home by Soucek.
No Premier League player has scored more headers than the Czech’s five in the last year.
The £13.5million buy grabbed an even better goal after 26 minutes when he controlled and volleyed home an Aaron Cresswell free-kick from a narrow angle.
Antonio hit a post when gifted possession straight from the restart and a Cresswell shot was deflected onto the woodwork before the break.
On-loan Craig Dawson sealed the win by climbing above Gary Cahill to head home Jarrod Bowen’s corner after 65 minutes.
Palace sub Michy Batshuayi struck in injury time for his first club goal in a year, but the Eagles now have one win in 10.
Manager Roy Hodgson, without assistant Ray Lewington because of his positive Covid test, said: “It wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t good enough to beat West Ham. They were good and deservedly won.”