Hammers under fire after victory tainted by Covid

ON WAY: Snodgrass celebrates after his opener for Hammers the touchline. The chaos comes after Leyton Orient’s tie with Spurs was postponed when a number of the League Two side’s players also tested positive for Covid- 19.

There are fears now that the lower leagues could face a crisis with a lack of testing by the EFL and clubs playing each other every three days.

The Premier League shut down in March after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta tested positive for Covid- 19. West Ham are set to play Wolves on Sunday in their next top- flight match.

The east Londoners had their tests on Monday and say social distancing was observed on the way to the tie, minimising the risk to the rest of the squad.

The club said in a statement: “West Ham United can confirm that David Moyes, Issa Diop and Josh Cullen have returned positive tests for Covid- 19. The club’s medical team were informed of the test results as the team were at London Stadium preparing for this evening’s Carabao Cup third- round tie against Hull City.

“The manager and both players immediately left the stadium and have returned home. All three, who are asymptomatic, will now follow Public Health England and Premier League guidelines and protocols.”

Hull said in a statement: “We are satisfied that West Ham followed all guidelines and protocols.”

Robert Snodgrass volleyed West Ham ahead midway through the first half. Sebastian Haller made it 2- 0 on half- time and Andriy Yarmolenko added a second- half penalty.

Mallik Wilks pulled a goal back for Hull, only for Haller and Yarmolenko to make the scoreline even more emphatic.

HALLER: Goal