However, a quickfire double from Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney turned the game on its head prior to the interval, with second-half strikes from Etienne Capoue and Jose Holebas sealing Walter Mazzarri’s first victory as Watford manager.
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Nearly as captivating was Deeney’s lob of goalkeeper Adrian in first-half injury-time that enabled Watford to enter half-time all-square and West Ham’s fretful back four never recovered.
Some in attendance tweeted their frustration at what they deemed to be a lack of stewarding at the match.
And we won because of what we did, not West Ham’s mistakes.
The morale of West Ham supporters was further dampened as a effect of the club’s humiliating exit in the Europa League play-offs at the hands of Astra Giurgiu and it is notable that Watford beat Slaven Bilic’s men 2-0 at Vicarage Road last season.
West Ham have demanded a police presence for games at the London Stadium after trouble marred Saturday’s match against Watford. “I don’t think they were doing it for that reason, but I need to thank them – they got the boys up and running”.
West Ham have worked hard behind-the-scenes to attract a new generation of supporters to the former Olympic Stadium, offering season-tickets for £99 to youngsters.
Antonio told whufc.com: “I’d rather not score and win the game than score two goals and lose it”.
But Payet, who hit 12 goals last term, has proved his fitness with two substitute appearances for his national side and is poised to go straight back into the starting line-up against the Hornets.
And the 71-year-old thought it was time that Bilic’s new recruits started to deliver, saying: “Personally, I think the new signings have to start making a bigger contribution on the park”.
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“In the second half we didn’t have that space behind them. It was way too early for us to switch off, it wasn’t like it was the 85th minute”.
