FT: Watford 2-0 West Ham: Hornets sting Hammers on Moyes’ opener

The start of the David Moyes era at West Ham resembled a lot of the end of the Slaven Bilic era, as the Hammers suffered a clear 2-0 defeat to Watford Sunday late afternoon at Vicarage Road.

Goals from top Hornets youngsters Will Hughes and Richarlison were enough on the day for Marco Silva’s side, as they were just sharper in front of goal than the visitors, who squandered several chances to finish past Hercules Gomes and level the match.

After a rather average beginning to the contest in terms of entertainment value, Hughes gave Watford the lead in the 11th minute, when he finished superbly off an Andre Gray mishit. It was yet another time West Ham had conceded an opening goal this season, and showed fully the task Moyes has at his disposal.

It was the Scot’s 500th game managed in the Premier League, but it resembled the latter matches at Sunderland and not his early great success at Everton. Both Cheikhou Kouyate and Marko Arnautovic could not covert chances they should have scored to even the score at one-all in the first half, denied by Gomes having a flashback to his days as Brazil’s undisputed #1 goalkeeper.

Kouyate would feel worse than being denied Gomes his first big goal scoring chances, as the Senegalese captain somehow could not convert from a great set up from Marko Arnautovic to again fail to make it 1-1. And it was a damaging second goal to seal it for the hosts in the 64th minute, when Richarlison finished past Joe Hart, who should have done better for his standards.

With West Ham in the relegation zone again, they will need a recovery soon, and it will hopefully start at home vs Leicester City on Friday.