Haller double lifts West Ham and piles pressure on Gracia

Mark Noble marked the 15th anniversary of his West Ham United debut with his side’s opening goal but it was new record club signing Sebastien Haller who ensured that Manuel Pellegrini’s side registered a first win of the season and added to the early problems confronting Javi Gracia, the Watford manager.

Haller who has been brought in to fill the gap left by Marko Arnautovic’s departure took the first steps towards justifying his £45 million price tag, with two second-half goals after Andre Gray had cancelled out Noble’s early penalty.

The outcome may well have been different had Will Hughes, the Watford midfielder, not missed from a yard out 10 minutes into the second half. .

‘‘We have lost three strikers from last season with Lucas Perez, Andy Carroll ending his contract and Marko Arnautovic going to China,’’ reflected Pellegrini. ‘‘I worked with Mario Husillos to find a new striker, we had a lot of different names and finally we set for Haller. Scoring two goals will be useful for him. It is not easy in the Premier League and these two goals will give him a lot of confidence.’’

While Haller and Pellegrini had reason to feel relieved, Gracia admitted that his side’s run – they have now lost seven successive games in a sequence that began at the end of last season, the worst of his career – has been keeping him awake at night.

‘‘We’ve been punished for all the mistakes we’ve made and it’s a difficult moment,’’ said Gracia after defeat confirmed Watford’s worst start to a Premier League season.

‘‘We need to change the momentum. It’s true. The dynamic is not good. We need to improve something. I’m preparing for the next game. If we win or lose I focus on the next game, I don’t think about the time [I’ll be given or not].’’

Less than a minute had elapsed when the visitors launched a counter led by Haller who spotted Manuel Lanzini when his run into the penalty box was cut off.

Lanzini cut inside Abdoulaye Doucoure whose clumsy challenge was penalised for the spot-kick that Noble easily converted.

‘‘It was a very good way for him to celebrate,’’ said Pellegrini. ‘‘It is his 15th year, he his part of this club. He is the captain and one of the players who is always thinking and reflecting the desire to grow this club and he has everyone behind him.

Watford responded positively with Gerard Deulofeu’s rising shot deflecting to safety off the West Ham bar five minutes later before levelling in the 17th minute. Deulofeu switched play to Hughes whose threaded ball found Gray’s run and the striker finished with a first time shot across Fabianski.

Gracia’s side grew stronger and had Hughes not steered his effort wide from little more than a yard out when he connected with Gray’s cross, the result may have been different.

West Ham duly punished the hosts, Haller restoring the lead in the 64th minute, turning home Felipe Anderson’s low cross. Haller’s second came eight minutes later from a rebound after substitute Michail Antonio, met Lanzini’s corner with a header that Ben Foster tipped on to the bar.

Watford (4-2-2-2) Foster 6; Femenia 6, Dawson 6, Cathcart 6, Holebas 6; Doucoure 5, Capoue 6; Hughes 5 (Sarr 74), Cleverley 7 (Quina 86); Deulofeu 6 (Welbeck 74), Gray 7. Subs Gomes (g), Janmaat, Chalobah, Kabasele. Booked Holebas. West Ham United (4-2-3-1) Fabianski 6; Fredericks 6, Diop 7, Ogbonna 6, Masuaku 7; Rice 6, Noble 7; Yarmolenko 6 (Antonio 55), Lanzini 7 (Sanchez 88), Anderson 6 (Fornals 78); Haller 8. Subs Roberto (g), Balbuena, Zabaleta, Ajeti. Booked Ogbonna. Referee Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).