West Ham United fell to a 4-2 defeat to rivals Watford at the London Stadium on Saturday, and it resulted in problems in the stands.
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Part of this was due to the perception of Allardyce’s pragmatic tactics as at odds with the mystical “West Ham” way and also due to an emotional disconnect with “his” team.
“I thought we were the only team who were going to win it in the second half”.
Chances were also falling at the other end, however, with Ighalo at fault for missing one before Adrian came to West Ham’s rescue for the second.
West Ham had been cruising with French playmaking star Dmitri Payet making his first start of the campaign and immediately easing into the role of creative fulcrum.
West Ham’s crumbling defence then allowed a cross by full debutant Roberto Pereyra to sail over their heads to an unmarked Capoue, who rifled the ball home from close range to give Watford the lead for the first time.
“We wanted Zaza in September of past year, but Juventus had no intention of selling him, then we turned our attention to Lacazette and then Bacca, but we weren’t the Colombian’s first choice”.
Republic of Ireland global midfielder Jeff Hendrick, a record signing for Burnley, came on with 15 minutes to go to make his debut for the Clarets.
“In the second half we didn’t have that space behind them”. However, with new signing Simone Zaza included and talismanic Frenchman Dimitri Payet and Argentine ace, Manuel Lanzini, back in the starting eleven, there was a real buzz amongst the Hammers faithful.
Ighalo nearly put Watford ahead on 48 minutes but his left foot strike missed the target.
Watford consistently looked likely to score and debutant Stefano Okaka netted from a corner, only to be flagged for offside. Watford looked to preserve their two-goal lead and see out the rest of the game, a feat which did not prove too hard.
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There were great goals in half an hour from Hammers man-of-themoment Antonio, two more super strikes in the space of five minutes from Watford’s Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney – and a piece of wizardry from Payet to boot.
