David Moyes’ first home game in charge saw West Ham held at home Leicester as Friday Night Football returned.
It was a terrible start for Moyes as Leicester scored from their first attack on goal after eight minutes when Marc Albrighton took advantage of some sloppy Hammers defending.
That Hammers fans have been impatient of late, and would have probably gotten on the back of the previous coach, but Moyes has called on the home fans to support their team in times of need.
West Ham should signs of improvement
They responded and it was a West Ham United in the London stadium, and the team responded to the fans, as they went in search of an equalizer. The home side got their just rewards with an equaliser through Cheikhou Kouyate right on half-time.
A point was not enough to lift West Ham out of the drop zone, but there were signs of improvements against a solid Leicester side. Even in defeat against Watford, West Ham had shown improvements and Moyes would have hoped to build on that, but his team wilted inside eight minutes.
Albrighton celebrayes his goal with Vardy
Nonchalant defending by West Ham allowed Jamie Vardy to run free down the left. He crossed the ball, and Angelo Ogbonna completely missed the ball, which then fell kindly to Albrighton, who poked the ball home from close range.
It could have got worse for Moyes as Leicester should have had a penalty on 22 minutes. Arthur Masuaku carelessly bundled into Albrighton but the referee was having none of it. The ball fell to Vardy, but the hitman fired wide with his effort.
Kouyate scores West Ham's equalizer
Despite the best efforts of the home fans, West Ham weren’t showing much promise. Their best chances were coming from set plays and there was a lot of them. There was 6 minutes of injury time in the first half alone. And West Ham took full advantage of this time.
And just before half time, David Moyes’ first home goal as West Ham boss was delivered by Kouyate. A Lanzini corner was met by the Senegalese as he planted the ball in the back of the net, to the approval of the London Stadium.
Kouyate celebrates his equalizer
It had been a bright start from Leicester but West Ham took control in the second half, albeit without threatening too much.
Masuaku did well on the hour as he got the better of Simpson. He found himself with space 20 yards out, but his fiercly struck shot didn’t trouble Schmeichel.
West Ham felt they should have had a penalty in the 77th minute when Ayew went over on the edge of the area. The referee rightly waved play on. And the game faded out to a 1-1 draw.
It wasn’t vintage West Ham, but it was a vastly improved performance. They have been limp this season, and although they struggled at times tonight, they kept going, and the fans responded to them.
Moyes has the unenviable record of not winning any of his 11 Premier League games in 2017. However, if the Hammers keep improving, he won’t be waiting too long for his first home win of the year.
Sources:
www.365.com
www.skysports.com
www.bbc.co.uk
www.imgbb.com
