Despite the likes of Andy Carroll, Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and club-record signing Andre Ayew all missing the clash, Bilic – who has been linked with making a move for Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony – was impressed with his side’s display and hopes to do more business before the window shuts.
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“I’m a big fan of Upton Park, I’m not paid to hail the new stadium if I don’t like it, I like those freezing cold stadiums”.
That extra man was to have a significant impact for, with just five minutes remaining, the tricky Tore crossed from the left flank and Antonio outjumped Charlie Daniels at the far post to head home and get the Hammers off to that winning start.
The match victor Antonio, proved a revelation in the second half of last season after his move from Nottingham Forest.
1-0 to West Ham was how it finished, giving the Hammers victory in their first league game at their new stadium, something which makes the occasion special, Noble feels.
West Ham’s new home is the 55th ground to host Premier League action and the third largest with a capacity that can rise to 60,000 later this season.
After an awkward start to the season, there was relief for Slaven Bilic thanks to Antonio’s late header. It’s a big blow for us.
“The worst situation is when you have a player and say he is the one to build around and then you can’t count on him”. It was hard, but we knew it would be.
The breakthrough in part stemmed from the space created by the dismissal of Bournemouth’s influential midfielder Harry Arter seven minutes earlier for a second bookable offence after bringing down Cheikhou Kouyate.
In stark contrast to the corresponding fixture last term – which finished 4-3 to Eddie Howe’s side – Sunday’s affair was a slow-burner, with the teams mustering just one shot on target between them in a first-half shorn of clear-cut chances. “We are well aware that dissent will be a yellow card”, Bournemouth’s manager said. The second booking is understandable.
“The first booking for H [Harry Arter] is the disappointing one, with the second one you are never going to be stopping people going in for tackles, but we have all been told about the new rules on dissent and the referees are clamping down on that”. Chelsea on Monday, we didn’t get back from Romania until 5am on Friday morning.
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Good interlinking play, with the new arrivals including Tore, Calleri, Arthur Masuaka and Havard Nordtvelt all looking to have settled quickly into their new set-up. “I don’t know how many times I can do it”.
