Insists an ever-optimistic Moyes
all, we deserved to take something.
“I don’t actually think we deserved to lose today and if we had got something out of the game I don’t think you could argue with it if it had been a point apiece.
“I thought we played better later on when we tried to create and got forward a bit more.
“I suppose partly that was because Watford were playing for the result and hanging on a wee bit.
“I was more disappointed at the start of the second half when Wat- ford gained that bit of momentum and we didn’t stop that.”
But Moyes’ assessment was generous, with Watford creating by far the better chances and had it not been for England U21 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, the Hornets would have won comfortably.
Moyes was full of praise for the homegrown talent, saying: “Jordan is a top young goalkeeper and he is now beginning to look like a top senior keeper. He made one really good save in the first half and he just eeted , e htweight t h n k t eir has really goodood command of his penalty box. If he keeps up his form, there are veryy few goalkeepers who can produce what Jordan Pickford is producing.” .”
Jermain Defoe completed the game despitee taking a knock, but the Black Cats’ats’ medical team have yet to make a proper assessment.
“He took a couple of rattles, but I haven’tn’t really spoken to him or the physios about it yet,”et,” said Moyes. Darron Gibson of Sunderland and referee Lee Probert check that Jermain Defoe of Sunderland, right, is okay after going down and left, Defoe struggles with his injury WEST Ham boss Slaven Bilic is braced for more speculation on his future after his side slumped to a fourth straight Premier League defeat, losing 2-1 at relegation fighters Hull.
Andrea Ranocchia headed home his first goal for Hull in the 85th minute to keep his side’s survival hopes alive after Andrew Robertson’s fine low finish after the break had cancelled out Andy Carroll’s firsthalf opener.
Carroll’s effort was his 50th Premier League goal – his 30th for West Ham and seventh of the season – but that was of littl tle consolation to Bilic, whose s side are now only six points a above the drop zone.
“The only way you can stop th the speculation is if you win g games or get a point or climb up th the table,” Bilic said.
“After four defeats, of course I c can expect even more speculati tion, but as I said I wasn’t worr ried before and I’m not worried n now. I’m doing my job. I’m very m motivated and very positive.”
West Ham’s vice-chairman K Karren Brady is the latest board m member to offer her support to th the Croatian, who is coming to th the end of the second year of his th three-year contract.
Brady told those suggesting th the club are looking for a r replacement to “shut up” before y yesterday’s defeat and insisted th they are planning to keep him.
“Speculation and all that - I s said ages ago it doesn’t affect m me,” Bilic added. “I don’t read it it. I know it, it’s there of course.
“We are all disappointed, e everybody with me in the dressin ing room, but my morale is a always high – it’s my job.
“I’m totally motivated and fo focussed. We have another g game soon, a chance to make it u up, to start winning games.
“Of course it’s not easy to have a great atmosphere when you have four defeats out of four g games, but it’s now down to us to show our team spirit and c character.”
Hull climbed level on points with fourth-bottom Swansea after securing a fourth win in five home games under head coach Marco Silva.
Silva extended his unbeaten home league record as a manager, stretching back through spells at Estoril, Sporting Lisbon and Olympiacos, to an impressive 39 matches.
“It’s not a secret, it’s the w work,” the Portuguese said. “We a all work, our staff, our players, th the supporters as well because n nobody wins alone.
“It’s important and they’re v very good numbers and give us a all more confidence.”