Ayew to the rescue after Troy Story 2
Deeney taunts backfire as Hammers hit back with a lucky late strike
WHEN Michail Antonio’s shot hit one post then the other, West Ham were beginning to think it summed up their day of rotten luck.
But the rebound found Andre Ayew and the substitute scored to save West Ham from defeat at Vicarage Road.
It had started badly for Slaven Bilic’s side after referee Craig Pawson awarded Watford a penalty after three minutes, then refused to oblige the Hammers when Cheikhou Kouyate appeared to be fouled inside the area.
It was hard work. West Ham had to see out the final five minutes with 10 men after Antonio was shown a second yellow card — another decision which rubbed Bilic up the wrong way.
As for Watford manager Walter Mazzarri, he will see this as a wasted opportunity.
It was in September when Troy Deeney aimed a dig at West Ham, saying they disrespected Watford by showboating at London Stadium. Here he had a point to prove.
Flicks, tricks and a goal from Watford’s captain — his fourth in his last five Premier League games — gave them a lead to defend. Deeney celebrated his spot-kick by shushing the away supporters as he got under their skin and aimed to send them home empty-handed.
Ayew, though, was in the right place at the right time. Bilic brought him on in the 65th minute and he scored in the 73rd on his first appearance since January 2.
Again for West Ham, there was no Andy Carroll, the striker who travelled to Dubai for warmweather training last week but is still suffering from a groin injury.
He is one goal short of 50 in the Premier League and the wait will go on. The same goes for that telephone call from Gareth Southgate.
England’s manager wants to watch the 28-year-old striker before next month’s international break but, with Carroll missing for a second successive match, he is running out of time.
Bilic was the touchline after avoiding a ban for throwing a TV microphone in frustration following their game against West Brom. Thankfully, no touchline equipment was harmed here. He may have been tempted to give one a kicking in the second minute, though, when Kouyate tripped ped former West Ham forward Mauro Zarate e inside the area. It was clumsy and Pawson pointed to the penalty spot.
Watford manager Mazzarri didn’t watch Deeney take it, instead d turning away as his captain ain scored and celebrated inn front of West Ham’s fans.
Deeney looked dangerous throughout. He was involved in a Birmingham nightclub fracas two weeks ago and wanted to make headlines for the right reasons here. In the 45th minute, a crosscro from West Ham’s AaronAa Cresswell found RobertR Snodgrass. Unable to control it, the chance was wasted and WatfordW cleared. It was the build-up to thatth which led to Zarate hurtinghur his knee. After a lengthylengt stoppage, the 29year-oldyear old forward was taken off on a stretcher to applause from both sets of supporters. There had been only one shot on target in the first half — Deeney’s spot-kick — and West Ham had work to do.
They wanted a penalty in the 50th minute when Kouyate went down after a tussle with Niang. Pawson decided it was a dive and gave a free-kick to Watford. Bilic could not believe it. Still, this was better from the away side.
They were on top. They thought they had scored when Jose Fonte headed goalward, only for Heurelho Gomes to get his fingertips to it.
Antonio then went close when Cresswell’s cross found him four yards out, only for the striker to send it wide. Yet he was involved in making it 1-1. His run led to a shot, which hit one post then the other, with Ayew there to tap it in.
Antonio’s day wasn’t done yet, though as he deliberately handled the ball after he had been tackled. It earned him a second yellow and reduced West Ham to 10 men. They survived — just — and went home with a well-earned point.