West Ham’s competition up front lifts the gloom

Moyes delighted to face selection dilemmas Antonio makes us a different side, he adds

It has been easy to forget at times in a miserable season, but there is no shortage of attacking quality at West Ham United.

The squad lack balance. And for much of the campaign they have lacked a coherent game plan. But David Moyes does not lack for creative, goalscoring players who can be the difference in a relegation battle.

The key is finding a system that gets the best out of them without exposing the defence. Moyes managed it on Saturday, when all four of his attacking players were involved in West Ham’s goals in a 3-1 victory against a Southampton team who had no answer to the speed and movement in the hosts’ frontline.

The size of Sebastien Haller, the speed of Michail Antonio, the vision of Pablo Fornals and, best of all, the energy of full debutant Jarrod Bowen. They all came together for West Ham, who deservedly won to climb out of the relegation zone.

“We have a choice and a selection decision in Felipe [Anderson], Manuel

Lanzini who we like a lot, and [Robert] Snodgrass,” said Moyes. “Suddenly we have a wee bit of competition up front. For periods in recent weeks I didn’t have people on the bench who can change games.”

Antonio, who scored the third, was crucial for a West Ham side who looked to counter at pace. Moyes said they are a “different” team with him in attack and, fitness permitting, Antonio’s qualities will provide a welcome contrast with Haller. The record signing serves as the targetman, while Antonio is the runner.

“We want to get him physically fit and game fit as well,” said Moyes of Antonio. “He is a striker that needs to do repetitive sprinting. Maybe we can’t push him to the maximum all the time. But imagine if we get Michail Antonio to his maximum with his ability?”

The enthusiasm that swept around the London Stadium was timely, given the strength of the protests against the owners before the

David Moyes picked Saturday’s four strikers for the first time and tore Southampton apart with their narrow formation

game. The highest estimates are that around 10,000 took part.

Plenty of fans arrived angry, then, but they left happy with the

team, if not co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan. Moyes was also delighted, but characteristically quick to highlight the importance of the defenders behind the exciting attacking quartet.

“You can have all the attacking options in the world, but if you are going to lose lots of goals you will always be in trouble,” said Moyes.

“We need to make sure we don’t concede so the boys get the opportunity to miss one or two but score when they can. ”

As for Southampton, an air of nervousness is returning. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have now lost three of their past four Premier League matches.

He was furious at his side’s defending, with goalkeeper Alex Mccarthy at fault for Haller’s goal. “We were not able to defend well,” said the Southampton manager. “This is an issue we must face. If we can’t change it in the season then we will have to address it in the summer.”