In a game lacking in quality, Michail Antonio stepped up to seal West Ham’s first league win in their new home, his late header enough to see off 10-man AFC Bournemouth.
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Frustrated by Diego Costa’s late victor for Chelsea in their Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge on Monday, West Ham were also dealing with a host of injuries to key players including Andre Ayew, Payet and Carroll.
In case you missed the goal, Tore had a moment of brilliance in beating his marker before unleashing a pinpoint cross which was headed into the back of the net by Antonio.
He is set to talk about it with the club on Monday, but revealed Payet and Manuel Lanzini could be back for the return leg against Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League.
Michail Antonio may have proved his worth in West Ham’s attack but he could soon find himself back in defence.
Bilic was delighted with the win, which ended any doubts about the wisdom of West Ham’s move away from Upton Park.
“I felt we were the better team and much-improved second half”.
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.
“It was proper loud and the fans helped us big time”, said the West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic.
“At a time when the club is growing its global portfolio, it is all the more important that we remain true to our rich heritage and so it is particularly pleasing to have joined forces with a prominent local business”, said West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady.
“With the week we’ve had – a disappointing result on Monday, then to go all the way to Romania [for a Europa League play-off tie] and get back at five on Friday morning, then get a win at home, it’s fantastic”, he said. “The season has just started I am very positive we are capable of winning games”.
The home supporters endured a nervous wait as Bilic’s side, missing forwards Andre Ayew, Andy Carroll and Dimitri Payet through injury, struggled until Bournemouth had influential midfielder Arter dismissed for a second bookable offence.
It’s always hard being a keeper, because you have to sit there waiting for something bad to happen.
“Everybody knows what he means for us, and, of course, we would have loved for him to play, but it was impossible”.
However, it was Arter’s first booking for dissent that infuriated Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe. “It’s the first one that burns”, Howe said. We are well aware that dissent or a negative reaction will be a yellow card.
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‘It’s going to be a massive lift for us. We need to learn quickly.
