Home comforts are vital for Bilic

IT’S not Slaven Bilic’s fault West Ham had to play their first three games on the road because their stadium was needed for athletics. And it’s not Bilic’s fault his team made some ridiculous mistakes at Old Trafford, nor that they tossed away a brave fightback from 2-0 down with 10 men at Southampton by giving away a soft penalty in the last minute.

But like Frank de Boer at Crystal Palace, the West Ham manager is under massive pressure.

Monday’s home game against Huddersfield is huge – and the atmosphere could turn sour if the Hammers fall behind.

Surely Bilic deserves more time for his major summer recruits – Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Chicharito and Marko Arnautovic – to bed in.

And I don’t understand why the owners felt it necessary to go public on the players Bilic could have signed in the transfer window, but declined the offers.

According to some West Ham fans, it’s not just a matter of their first three games – including the back end of last season, they have only won three out of the last 17.

On the other hand, Bilic (below) qualified for Europe in his first season with 62 points and, after finishing in 11th place last May, he should still have some goodwill left in the bank. I’m sure West Ham fans will be up for it on Monday night and I expect Bilic to get off the mark this season – because woe betide him if he doesn’t.

The last time West Ham had no points to show for their first four games – under Avram Grant in 2010-11 – they finished bottom of the pile and were relegated.