“Their first two goals were way too easy”.
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“All we can do is say sorry to the fans for that and move on to the next game”.
Matty Lawless of the Daily Mirror was at the game and tweeted about the “nasty, spiteful atmosphere” he had encountered at the game.
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. In other games we’ve had opportunities but they didn’t go in.
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri praised Troy Deeney’s contribution after the captain helped the Hornets mount an astonishing comeback win over West Ham United. Antonio met a Dimitri Payet corner for the first and latched onto another Payet cross while beating the offside trap for the second, heading past Heurelho Gomes in the Watford goal.
The Hammers surrendered a two-goal lead as they suffered their first Premier League loss at London Stadium, and matters also turned sour off the pitch.
Slaven Bilic denied West Ham became complacent after building their comfortable two-goal lead, but admitted their defensive frailties must be addressed quickly.
“At half-time, we spoke with the players, we adjusted a couple of things”. They were pressuring us, we felt the pressure not only of them, but of the public (crowd).
West Ham face an FA investigation as a result of the ugly scenes, which is set to scrutinise the distance between rival fans and the levels of stewarding inside the ground. “I really didn’t see anything”, Bilic said. We had a good 40 minutes and if anyone looked like scoring a third it was us.
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But there was also scuffles between home fans and stewards, employed by the stadium owners, seeking to ensure supporters remain seated during matches.
