Hammers touch wood as sub Ayew rebound nets a share of spoils

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 it 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 spotkick by shushing the away supporters as he got under their skin and aimed to send them home emptyhanded.

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 in his first game since January 2.

Again for West Ham, there was no Andy Carroll, the striker who travelled to Dubai for warm-weather 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 he is running out of time.