Video: Moyes arrives and goes Cherry picking

CandH blogger Allen Cummings recalls David Moyes’ great start second time around

New year’s day, and the first game of the new year was also the first game for new manager David Moyes, following the sacking of Manuel Pellegrini. Moyes’ previous reign as West Ham manager had ended with a 3-1 home win over Everton in May 2018.

Now the new boss was hoping for a similarly positive result to his new tenure. Bournemouth were the visitors to the London Stadium on the day. Ironically the same opponents against whom it all started to go wrong for Pellegrini, when Lukasz Fabianski was injured and we were introduced to the car-crash that was Roberto.

The new manager ‘bounce’ was in evidence from the kick off. There seemed to be an extra spring in the step of everyone wearing claret and blue that day – none more so than captain Mark Noble, who bagged the all important first goal after 17 minutes.

Sebastien Haller added a second on 25 minutes with a spectacular scissors kick, and there was still time for a third Hammers before half time, Nobes notching his second of the day from the penalty spot, after being brought down by Harry Wilson.

After the break Felipe Anderson added a fourth. But the drama wasn’t done – Aaron Cresswell was initially shown a red card by referee Graham Scott for a robust challenge  – only for VAR to work in a favour for once – the card being rescinded in favour of just a yellow.

When the final whistle blew West Ham had recorded their biggest win of the season and their biggest in the Premier League for more than a decade.

They had also secured a vital victory over another relegation threatened rival, giving David Moyes the kind of start he could only have dreamed of. No wonder there were ‘Happy New Year’ wishes all round!

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon