West Ham turned on the style in the first half to secure a 3-1 victory over relegation-rivals Watford to all but seal their Premier League status for next season.
The Hammers – who started the day level on points with Watford, three above the relegation zone – burst out of the traps, stunning the visitors as goals from Michail Antonio (6) and Tomas Soucek (10) saw them race into the lead, before Declan Rice’s stunning strike (36) extended that advantage before half time.
Troy Deeney pulled a goal back for the visitors four minutes after the break but West Ham saw off an improved Watford display in the second half to hold on for a crucial win.
Victory sees David Moyes’ side, who have a better goal difference than all of their relegation rivals, move six points above the drop zone with just two games remaining.
They also move up to 15th, above Brighton on goal difference and three points ahead of Watford, who stay just three points clear of the bottom three with games against Manchester City and Arsenal left to play.
As things stand…
No side have been six points clear with two games to go and been relegated…
How West Ham’s fast start stunned Watford
With both sides locked on 34 points and three above the drop zone ahead of kick, the match was billed as somewhat of a relegation cup final, but there were no cup final nerves from West Ham.
The Hammers took a sixth-minute lead when Pablo Fornals’ deflected pass found the in-form Antonio, who made no mistake firing through the legs of Ben Foster and into the back of the net for his seventh goal since the resumption of the Premier League in June.
Less than five minutes later, Watford’s task was made even harder. Pearson’s side were given a mountain to climb when Soucek emphatically headed home Jarrod Bowen’s inch-perfect cross.
West Ham were in dreamland when Rice’s superb 33-yard strike left Foster rooted to the spot and curled into the far corner to give the Hammers a three-goal advantage going into the second half.
Pearson, who would have expected a response from his side following their poor first-half performance, sent out his side early for the second half and they started brightly, Christian Kabasele glancing a header just wide after Will Hughes’ corner.
They were eventually rewarded when Deeney reduced the deficit in the 49th minute. It was a slick break from the visitors as Abdoulaye Doucoure drove down the left before going for goal, but his strike rebounded off the post and into the path of the captain who tapped home to hand his side a lifeline.
The momentum had seemingly shifted towards Watford, but Deeney’s exit due to trouble with a long-standing knee problem in the 67th minute was a big blow to the visitors’ chances.
West Ham substitute Sebastien Haller almost made the three points safe with his first touch, but Foster, scrambling back to his goal, somehow manged to get a touch to the ball to divert it inches wide.
Watford had one final chance to pile the pressure on the hosts in the final 10 minutes but Danny Welbeck couldn’t turn home the impressive Ismaila Sarr’s dangerous cross as the Hammers held on for a vital three points.
Man of the Match – Angelo Ogbonna
Sky Sports‘ Gary Neville: “I’m going with Ogbonna. He’s been excellent at left centre back. His defending has been really good all night. There’s a smile on his face, he knows he’s done his job for West Ham.”
Opta stats – Back-to-back Premier League wins for West Ham
- West Ham United have won consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since August 2019.
- Watford have lost five consecutive Premier League away matches for the first time since May 2018 (six in a row).
- Since the Premier League restarted in June, West Ham’s Michail Antonio has scored more Premier League goals than any other player (7).
- West Ham scored twice in the first 10 minutes of a Premier League game for the first time since September 2014 against Liverpool.
What’s next?
West Ham now go to Manchester United on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports at 6pm, before hosting Aston Villa on the final day of the season on Sunday at 4pm.
Watford host Manchester City on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports at 6pm, and go to Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday at 4pm.
Relegation run-in live on Sky Sports – confirmed games so far
Mon July 20: Brighton vs Newcastle – 6pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Tue July 21: Watford vs Manchester City – 6pm, Sky Sports
Tue July 21: Aston Villa vs Arsenal – 8.15pm, Sky Sports
Wed July 22: Manchester United vs West Ham – 6pm, Sky Sports
Sun July 26: Arsenal vs Watford – 4pm, TV details to be confirmed
Sun July 26: Burnley vs Brighton – 4pm, TV details to be confirmed
Sun July 26: Everton vs Bournemouth – 4pm, TV details to be confirmed
Sun July 26: West Ham vs Aston Villa – 4pm, TV details to be confirmed
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