‘In this market session we tried to raise the bar trying to buy players who a few years ago would have been unthinkable for our club, ‘ said Bilic.
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However it was the home side that dealt the first blow five minutes in, Payet was proving risky on his return to the side as he whipped the corner in and Antonio headed home with the slight deflection off Deeney.
An unspecified number of fans were ejected from the London Stadium after fights broke out in the closing stages of the game after the hosts had thrown away a two-goal lead.
Bet365 make West Ham 4/5 favourites to win this one with Watford 7/2 outsiders.
The Hornets registered their maiden victory under new manager Walter Mazzarri after overcoming an early two-goal deficit to triumph 4-2 in a roller-coaster Premier League encounter.
“Watford’s second was a classic for YouTube because there was no communication between two players”. It was way too easy.
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.
The tens of thousands of vacated places will not have looked good to the West Ham owners who could not wait to leave the Boleyn Ground for the former Olympic Stadium, but they were a testament to a remarkable display of heart and resilience from Watford.
The Hammers boss added: “The bottom line is if we defend like this we aren’t going to win many games”. And then Adrian should have stopped Jose Holebas’ low shot which found the corner after 63 minutes. “It came from a very predictable attack”, Bilic said. They were pressuring us, we felt the pressure not only of them, but of the public (crowd).
It was in the same area of the pitch that Payet produced a moment of magic that enabled West Ham to extend their lead, using his footwork to torment Watford’s defence before executing a rabona cross to the far post.
And the visitors’ comeback was complete on the stroke of half-time as, after capitalising on a mix-up between Adrian and Collins, Deeney levelled with a precise finish into the top corner.
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Payet had a chance for West Ham on 59 minutes but his clever chip was saved.
