Bilic feared the axe

LONDON. - Slaven Bilic toasted the perfect birthday present after West Ham hauled themselves off the foot of the English Premier League soccer table with a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield on Monday night.

Second-half goals from Pedro Obiang - thanks to a huge deflection - and Andre Ayew secured the Hammers’ first league win of the season.

Victory came as a huge relief to Bilic, who feared he might go the same way as Frank de Boer at Crystal Palace had his side lost a fourth straight game.

Instead it was a happy homecoming for the Hammers, playing their first game of the season at the London Stadium, and a happy 49th birthday for the boss. “This was a good present to be fair,’’ he said.

“It was a top performance, not in the sense of beautiful football, but in determination and in executing the game plan.

“Was De Boer’s sacking on my mind? It was. I ain’t going to lie. But I’m 49, I’ve been in football since I was 18, so I know.’’ - ESPN.