Irons 1 Palace 1
Joao Mario produced an outstanding performance on his full Hammers debut.
Totally composed and clearly highly skilled, he was also drawing fouls in dangerous positions as the Irons battled to a 1-1 draw om a night when they had 14 players injured and suspended.
Mario was delighted with his performance and grateful to the team for the help they gave him as he often looked a class apart.
And afterwards he said: “The team helped me a lot. The Premier League is really difficult. It’s my first game and I feel great. I need to work hard to help my team.”
He was helped in particular by his midfield team mates Cheik Kouyate who possibly had his best game of the season and skipper Mark Noble who grabbed the equaliser from the penalty spot following Christian Benteke’s headed opener.
Noble was right on his game all evening showing a real measure of skill and the usual wholehearted endeavour.
David Moyes commented: “I was pleased with a point because of the amount of key players we had missing.
“Crystal Palace have probably been the form team outside the top six. Every club has injuries, it’s a chance for other players to show what they can do.
“Joao Mario settled in really quickly, which is always a worry when you bring a player in from abroad. He looks as if he is quite good at all the things.
“He handled the ball well and we needed him, he was important to us.”
“Noble was right on his game all evening showing a real measure of skill and the usual wholehearted endeavour.”
So, a 6 in the ratings then?
Well done lads. Feared the worst tonight but as long as we show that commitment and organisation, all will be ok. Hopefully start getting players back and we will get there. Mario a big bonus.
I thought we would loose with the squad we got so I’m happy with the point but it doesn’t alter the fact that we need 2\3 players because we are to thin on the ground any more suspension or injuries and we won’t be able to put a team out
Mario was good whole team was but hope this doesn’t make Sully & Moyes think they will be ok with not any more players. With our injury record.
And shows Players can come in out of PL & have immediate effect maybe that will get Moyes of PL experience some.
But Moyes deservss credit great game being wanting to play Zab at DM & it worked.
Hope keep it going but still need reinforcements.
The U23s only had 4 players on bench so stretching us thin