Watford 2 West Ham 0: Watch highlights as Will Hughes and Richarlison score to sink David Moyes on his Hammers debut
Even without suspended captain Troy Deeney Marco Silva's men got the job done at Vicarage Road
Even without suspended captain Troy Deeney Marco Silva's men got the job done at Vicarage Road
DAVID MOYES suffered a nightmare start to his West Ham tenure when Will Hughes put Watford ahead with his first ever goal for the club.
While Hughes was making only his second ever Premier League start this was Moyes' 500th Premier League match, a milestone only previously reached by Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger.
But there was little for him to celebrate, losing to a team which had not won in three matches.
Moyes, out of work since being dismissed by Sunderland when he was also involved in a sexism row, has made it clear that he is determined to get back to basics.
But on this showing he faces an uphill battle with the army of away fans also only too aware of the bleak season that looks to lie head.
They were chanting Sack the Board soon after kick-off and then turned on the team after the second goal with 'You're not Fit to Wear the Shirts'.
Watford went ahead after just 11 minutes when defender Marvin Zeegelaar, making debut after signing from Sporting Lisbon, supplied a great pass to Andre Gray.
The Hornets were unlucky not to score against just after the half-hour when Richarlison supplied Kiko Femenia only for his effort to be deflected off West Ham's Angelo Obonna.
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Gomes again kept his team in the match deep in stoppage time when Zabaleta crossed to Marko Arnautoivic whose header was first kept out by the Hornets shot-stopper before he then stuck his leg out to stop the rebounded shot.
The home side came back after the break firing on all cylinders with Gray shooting wide after being set up by Christian Kabasele.
And they were finally rewarded for their efforts when Richarlison scored the second.
A Winston Reid header fell into the path of the Hornets before Hughes found the Brazilian although TV footage showed a possible hand-ball from Hughes.
David Moyes told Sky Sports: "Most people would have expected something like that performance.
“I was disappointed we didn't do better, but we missed some really big chances.
“The better team won the game, but there was a chance to change the outcome of the game.
“We have to improve.
“I was only ever going to find out what the players were like by working with them and seeing them play today. When the opportunities didn't go for us, the confidence went away.
“We have to try to find a way of winning. The important thing is to be in the game, and when we lost the second goal, it became difficult.”
Watford boss Marco Silva – who is linked with the Everton job - said: "The way we have worked in the last week is the way we have worked since I arrived at the club.
“My players work with me. They know my commitment. My future is tomorrow, and starting to prepare for the next game. That is my future.
"Some things we cannot control. I know what is in my hands, and that is planning for the session tomorrow."