Watford 2-0 West Ham

Watford ended a three game losing run as they defeated West Ham on David Moyes’ first game in charge of The Hammers.

Goals from Will Hughes and Richarlison gave The Hornets all three points as they moved up to eight in the Premier League. In a week of uncertainty off the field, Watford most certainly did their talking on the pitch.

Watford took the lead after 10 minutes as Marvin Zeegelaar’s cross was eventually turned home by Hughes following Andre Gray’s miss kick. It was the midfielders first Hornets goal after moving from Derby County in the summer.

Watford had much the better of the opening 30 minutes and nearly doubled their when Joe Hart parried out Richarlison’s shot and Kiko Femenia drove the rebound narrowly wide of the left hand post.

West Ham nearly equalised just before the break after a fantastic passing move found Cheikhou Kouyate through on goal but Heurelho Gomes saved superbly to keep his side in front.

Gomes was the hero again as he made a superb double save from Marco Arnautovic, the Austrian headed powerfully down towards goal which the Brazilian got down to save before he got up to deny the midfielders rebound.

The Hammers should have been level just after the restart, as Arnautovic cut it back for Kouyate who blazed it over from 6 yards out. Up the other end Abdoulaye Doucoure nearly put his side two ahead but his shot whistled past Joe Hart’s post.  

Joe Hart made an outstanding save from point blank range as he clawed out Adrian Mariappa’s goal bound header. Disbelief amongst the home faithful as to just how the England international denied The Hornets a second.

The Hornets pressure paid as they soon got that elusive second goal as Hughes set away Richarlison who made no mistake with the finish for his 5^th Premier League goal of the season.

West Ham came within millimetres of pulling a goal back as Manuel Lanzini’s shot was brilliantly blocked by Christian Kabasele. The Belgian covered the corner of the goal and through himself at it superbly.

The result means The Hammers remain in the relegation zone and without an away win since May. They host Leicester at the London Stadium next for Moyes’ first home match.

The Hornets will be hoping that Marco Silva is still in the dugout for the trip to Newcastle next Saturday following speculation he will fill the vacant Everton job.

Man of the match: Will Hughes  

Attendance: 20,018