SOFA SO GOOD FOR VIRUS-HIT MOYES
David MoyES might be a manager who likes to suffer on the touchline and feel the pressure of the game but he could probably could get used to this.
Sunday evenings, at home on the sofa with his feet up and refreshment to hand, as he feasted on his team’s display against Wolves, a second victory in six days since he was ordered into isolation.
assistant boss alan irvine took the strain at the London Stadium and coach Stuart Pearce sat by the phone to stay in contact with Moyes, who tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Carabao Cup tie against Hull last week.
The Hammers manager is more likely to have taken to his remote control dressed in his tracksuit and boots, pacing the front room.
Still, he could have been forgiven had he changed channels to catch the end of
Antiques Roadshow once his team went 3-0 up early in the second half, courtesy of two goals from Jarrod Bowen and a Raul Jimenez own goal.
Moyes, were he tempted, would have missed Sebastien Haller heading in a fourth in stoppage time to complete a convincing victory. Unfortunately, there was no such option for Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
‘very bad,’ said Nuno. ‘Unbalanced, disorganised, losing duels. offensively, we didn’t create, we were not able to break West Ham. Every counter-attack was a chance at goal and it created anxiety in the team.’
West Ham, already into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, are off the mark with their first points of the Premier League campaign and some of the angst accompanying the start of a new campaign at the club can ease.
Bowen’s first goal since February gave the Londoners the initiative. Pablo Fornals released him with a quick free-kick from midfield, after Willy Boly had flattened Michail antonio. Bowen jinked inside from the right, drove into the penalty area and curled a wonderful shot around Roman Saiss and inside the far post, out of Rui Patricio’s reach.
Wolves boss Nuno disputed the free-kick, claiming it was taken from the wrong place and that the ball might have been rolling.
Fornals did not stop the ball but, as antonio and Boly tangled on the turf, he sized up the situation in a flash and fizzed a pass to Bowen.
Referee Martin atkinson and his assistants were happy with it. West Ham were ahead and ought to have scored more before half-time. Patricio made three fine saves, each one better than the last. one from antonio and two from Tomas Soucek.
The second from Soucek was a terrific reaction save, low down to keep out a strong header at the back post.
Belatedly, Wolves stirred, perhaps realising they were fortunate to be only a goal adrift.
When Pedro Neto summoned their first effort on goal, it was little more than a routine save for Lukasz Fabianski but it represented their arrival in the contest. Briefly they performed with greater purpose and intensity, although their vulnerability on the counter-attack allowed Bowen to score his second and end hopes of a fightback.
antonio ran the ball down the left and picked out Fornals, who took a touch and went for goal from outside the box. His effort thumped into a post and popped out to Bowen who tapped in.
Bowen went close to a hat-trick as he arrived to meet a cross from arthur Masuaku.
The ball flashed wide, although West Ham’s third soon followed. aaron Cresswell’s corner was met at the near post by a glancing header from Soucek and Patricio was deceived as it clipped Jimenez on the chest.
Haller came off the bench to score the fourth from another terrific Masuaku cross. ‘The players were outstanding,’ said irvine. ‘it was a fantastic performance against a very good team and we could have scored more.’ West Ham have won twice and scored nine without Moyes, who has the all-clear to return on Thursday but who might think twice about rushing back.