Moyes and West Ham almost safe

WEST HAM last night all but secured their future in the Premier League with a crucial victory over fellow strugglers Watford. The win put them three points ahead of Nigel Pearson’s men with just two games to play, while the Hornets stay three points clear of the bottom three with games against Manchester City at home and Arsenal away to come. David Moyes’ hosts took an early lead when Pablo Fornals played in the in-form Michail Antonio who fired across Ben Foster and into the net for his seventh goal since the resumption of the English top flight in June. Less than five minutes later, Watford’s task was made even harder when Tomas Soucek headed home a second after a well-placed cross from Jarrod Bowen. Declan Rice’s superb 30-yard strike then gave the Hammers a three-goal advantage going into the second half. Watford emerged with far greater purpose after the break and were given fresh hope in the 49th minute. Abdoulaye Doucoure’s fine run past a couple of defenders ended with a low shot off the post, but the rebound fell to Troy Deeney who converted. But Moyes’ men came back into the game, and Sebastien Haller almost scored a screamer with his first touch after replacing Fornals. Watford’s defence headed a long ball straight to the Frenchman, who hit an acrobatic first-time volley from 25 yards which Foster just got his fingertips to. Soucek could then have wrapped things up for the Hammers with his second goal of the game but this time he headed over the bar from Antonio’s cross. Andre Gray had a chance to put pressure on West Ham in the 82nd minute but he missed his header from Ismaila Sarr’s brilliant cross and Danny Welbeck shot over.