Well, how about that for a match to get your blood pumping. West Ham and Watford exchange chances non stop in this match with the Hammers eventually running away with an incredibly open and nervy match.
A few changes to the starting XI for West Ham heading into this match. Mark Noble and Andriy Yarmolenko were awarded their first Premier League starts, with Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson also mixing back into the first team after injury kept them out of the Brighton match.
It was a bit of a surprise for Michail Antonio not to start with Yarmolenko drawing in. Antonio changed the complexion of the Brighton match with his speed and physicality, and when he was introduced and looked to have earned a start.
Nobes, Haller and Felipe Anderson all start! 💪 pic.twitter.com/AoYdzZL6BN
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 24, 2019
The match started with a bang as Gerard Deolefeu broke through the West Ham backline but was muscled off the ball by Fredericks. The counterattack saw Felipe Anderson send Haller in on goal. Some great hold up play got Manuel Lanzini involved who stutter-stepped and forced a lazy tackle from Dacoure which earned a penalty for the Hammers.
On the anniversary of his Premier League debut, Mark Noble grabbed the ball and placed it on the spot before making no mistake and putting the Hammers up 1-0 just three minutes into the match. West Ham missed him for his midfield leadership and his penalty taking skills clearly.
It took just 14 minutes for Watford to respond, however, with Andre Gray slamming home a perfect shot past a diving Fabianski. Will Hughes played a great pass that picked out the incisive run from Gray who made no mistake. WAT 1-1 WHU .
The match would continue to be an open affair for the rest of the first half. Yarmolenko, who was replaced by Michail Antonio in the 55th minute, put a solid effort on goal that almost dipped around Foster in goal. Once brought on, Antonio again changed the pace of the match for West Ham. He spurred forward two key chances almost immediately and helped create West Ham’s second goal.
The goal came in the 64th minute and was a Hammers first for Sebastien Haller. The club-record signing made no mistake walking in a magnificent pass from Anderson after Masuaku, Lanzini, and Anderson combined well down the left side. Haller is officially off the mark and wouldn’t stop at just one goal. WAT 1-2 WHU .
More West Ham pressure resulted in a corner and an Anderson attempt saw a shot parried onto the crossbar by Foster. The play wasn’t dead, however, as Haller timed a perfect overhead kick to slam the ball into the net from close range. He’s off and running and so to were West Ham as the match ended WAT 1-3 WHU.
2 GOALS FOR HALLER!! 😍 pic.twitter.com/I0uL5isdwT
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 24, 2019
The game was extremely open and concerning defensively for the Hammers. Issues which will be discussed further in the future included Ryan Fredericks positioning, Diop and Ogbonna losing players on runs into the pitch, and lack of hustle from the West Ham wide players to get back into the defensive end to bail out their defenders.
Regardless, West Ham overpowered the Watford attack who, despite being without Pereyra and Deeney, looked extremely fast and dangerous for the entire 90 minutes. If this is the new-look West Ham for 2019/20 then be still my heart. Not because I’m in love, but because it is palpitation inducing football I’ve yet to experience from the Hammers.