The relentless pressure from the home side eventually told in the 84th minute when the risky Michail Antonio, back in his favoured wing position, came in round the back to head home a cross from the left from the impressive Gokhan Tore.
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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.
A crowd of over 57,000 saw Michail Antonio score five minutes from time to give West Ham victory over Bournemouth in the first Premier League match at the London Stadium.
It was a finely crafted goal, though, as Antonio rose at the far post to head in from close range after a lovely flighted cross from the left by Turkish global Gokhan Tore.
With the game seemingly heading towards a dreary stalemate, Arter – booked for dissent in the first period – hauled down Cheikhou Kouyate and received his marching orders with 12 minutes to play.
Antonio developed a happy knack of scoring at Upton Park last term – six of his eight goals came at West Ham’s old ground – and he was delighted to get off the mark straight away at their new home.
Though now sidelined with a hamstring injury Feghouli is convinced he made the right call in moving to West Ham, who he has watched from afar for some time.
Boss Slaven Bilic admitted last week the Ghana worldwide might not play again until January at the earliest if he needed surgery but now the club’s head of medical and sports science, Stijn Vandenbroucke, has ruled out an operation. “If we get one, hopefully it will be a good one”, he said.
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.
And then after club chief executive Karren Brady tweeted her delight at getting three points, the same fan replied to her with the message “Where’s my ‘kin seat??” “One moment of quality from them and we were punished”.
“It’s hugely disappointing. There was nothing in game and ultimately the red card cost us the game”, said Howe.
“That’s the one that has to disappoint, the first booking”.
“We aren’t just going to get wins given”.
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The full-back concluded: “It is a great stadium, the pitch, the atmosphere, it really is special and we are really excited to be playing in this stadium”.
