Joyce can see Cleary the size of task ahead
d io ng n m y 11 n he he ss h, h n ns Bilic’s side have now picked up only 11 points out of 33 and they cannot even blame the strain of midweek Europa League travels for their stuttering form.
But what is even worse than their league position is their sterile play that saw just one shot on target in the first hour.
Admittedly it took a brilliant stop from Grant to deny Angelo Ogbonna but this is not the free-flowing School of Science from the Hammers.
It is almost as if the move to Stratford has sucked all the heart and fight out of the old Hammers and, so far, Bilic has been unable to do anything about it.
The lukewarm boos from a 59,000-plus crowd summed up the muted atmosphere and it could, and should, have been a lot worse for the Hammers as Stoke carved out the better chances.
Mark Hughes’ side opened with the confidence of a team that has halted their faltering start to the season and won three Premier League games in a row.
And they could have surged into the lead within four minutes, only a flying tackle from Pedro Obiang preventing Walters getting his first league goal of the season after an 11-match barren spell.
Walters looked up for it and made life difficult for the Hammers’ defence but his savagely struck cross hit Cheikhou Kouyate and, while it could have gone almost anywhere, it bounced away to safety.
The Hammers, struggling to cope with the Potters’ raids UNLUCKY No.13: Adrian is baled out by his defence again and not helping themselves with some sloppy passing, finally woke up as Ogbonna got up high to head down Payet’s cross.
It was the first effort on target and had taken 27 minutes and a magnificent right-handed save by Grant to scoop the ball away as it looked to have gone past him.
Adrian always looked shaky but it was probably no wonder considering his lack of protection.
He dropped Charlie Adam’s corner but was saved from embarrassment when Kouyate mopped up, although he did redeem himself when he clawed away a late free-kick from the Scot.
Two efforts on target all game emphasises West Ham’s problems – and Bilic’s worries as they flirt dangerously close to the drop zone.
Antonio, who has now gone six games without a goal after five in five, said: “It should have been my goal. I’m on a bit of a drought. To have it taken away from me is very disappointing. I was looking forward to that goal.”
Hughes said: “Six games unbeaten for a team at our level is good. A lot was made of the start to our season which I think was a little bit unfair.
“We got on track very, very quickly and we just needed to get points on the board.
“Maybe we merited all three points but we were very much in control in terms of chances created.
“After our equaliser we expected to be under pressure but we looked to be the team more likely to get the winner.” THE Warren Joyce era began in nightmare fashion for Wigan as two early Garath McCleary goals helped Reading ease to victory at the DW Stadium.
Latics this week hired former Manchester United reserve team manager Joyce on a three-and-a-half-year contract after sacking Gary Caldwell.
Any hopes of a new manager bounce were banished in the opening five minutes as McCleary’s early double put Jaap Stam’s side in charge, with Yann Kermorgant’s second-half penalty sealing a third straight league success.
Afterwards a raging Joyce said: “It’s the worst possible start you could get.
“The second goal was equally poor and then you’ve got a mountain to climb against a good side. We’ve given them a two-goal lead.
“It’s basics even if you’re in Under-14s football.
“The next goal was a poor goal to concede.
“If it was younger players you’d be disappointed with the decisions that were made.
“The only heartening thing was that the players didn’t give up.”
Just 57 seconds were on the clock when McCleary made it 1-0 by latching on to George Evans’ long ball and capitalising on some confusion between Reece Burke and Adam Bogdan to flick into the net.
Within five minutes the Royals were two goals up as McCleary was allowed to run at Latics’ backline and beat Bogdan again with a right-footed shot.
The fans who had come to see the dawning of a new era were now booing after witnessing a dreadful opening five minutes.
The Reading victory was confirmed in the 63rd minute when Max Power tripped John Swift in the box.
McCleary passed on the chance to score a treble and left Kermorgant with the spot-kick, which he converted as Wigan fans headed for the exit.
Stam said: “How we played, how we defended, how we created chances, we did that very well and we deserved that win.”