SOUCEK AT DOUBLE FOR MOYES:
Soucek brace lifts the Hammers
DAVID MOYES demanded even more from West Ham after a Tomas Soucek double lifted them to fourth place – just 13 months after they left Selhurst Park as relegation candidates.
In this fixture on Boxing Day last season, Michail Antonio played after crashing his Lamborghini while dressed as a snowman and Mark Noble had to be separated from Angelo Ogbonna during another defeat.
Manuel Pellegrini was gone two days later after just two wins in 14 games.
The stats under manager Moyes now show six straight wins in all competitions, including four consecutive league games for the first time since December 2018. Soucek, who has now scored eight goals this season, has been crucial in the transformation since his arrival in last January’s transfer window.
And Moyes said: “I want to be in and around the top. The players have been exceptional and they want more. I sense that in the dressing room – but I think we are only scratching the surface.”
The Scot claimed Soucek reminded him of ex-Ipswich great John Wark for his scoring ability. “Soucek has been brilliant for us since he came to this country this time last year,” he said.
Soucek added: “We have so much confidence.”
But the Hammers had to come from behind when the returning Wilfried Zaha opened the scoring for Palace after just three minutes. The Ivory Coast winger, who missed the
Manchester City defeat through injury, exchanged flicks with Christian Benteke before drilling home his ninth goal of the season from just outside the box. The lead last only six minutes.
A fine pass from Pablo Fornals down the left released Antonio and his cross with the outside of his right boot was headed home by Soucek.
No Premier League player has scored more than the Czech’s five headed goals in the past year. He scored an even better goal after 25 minutes when he controlled and volleyed home an Aaron Cresswell free-kick from a narrow angle.
On-loan defender Craig Dawson sealed the win by climbing above Gary Cahill to head home Jarrod Bowen’s corner after 65 minutes. Substitute Michy Batshuayi scored his first club goal for a year in injury-time but Palace have now won just once in 10 games in all competitions.
Roy Hodgson said: “It wasn’t good enough. They deservedly won.”
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Guaita 7; Ward 6, Kouyate 5, Cahill 5, Mitchell 5; Townsend 6 (Batshuayi 66, 6), McArthur 6, Milivojevic 5 (Riedewald 73), Eze 5; Benteke 6 (Ayew 73), Zaha 6.
Goals: Zaha 3, Batshuayi 90. WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 7; Coufal 6, Dawson 7, Ogbonna 8, Cresswell 6; Soucek 8, Rice 6; Bowen 6 (Fredericks 81), Benrahma 6 (Noble, 87), Fornals 7; Antonio 8 (Yarmolenko 83). Goals: Soucek 9, 25, Dawson 65.