After a difficult first half at The Hawthorns for West Ham United, Slaven Bilic watched on as his side claimed all three points, winning the game 3-0. Three extremely significant points for West Ham as a club, as they broke their club record for most number of points collected in a season, with three games left to play.
West Ham sweep past West Brom
After a challenging first thirty minutes, Cheikhou Kouyate broke the deadlock as he latched onto a fantastic ball from Dimitri Payet, heading the ball past Ben Foster in the West Bromwich Albion goal.
On the stroke of half time, the Hammers doubled their lead through a Mark Noble goal after some terrific build up play from Kouyate who provided the assist, slotting the ball away for 2-0 at half time, keeping composed in the box.
West Ham sealed their historical win with a goal of real class, summing up their terrific season under boss Slaven Bilic. Team of the season midfielder, Dimitri Payet was at the heart of the attack as he has been so often this campaign. The Frenchman beat his marker, finding Andy Carroll out wide on the left, who elegantly chipped the ball into the centre of the box for Mark Noble to expertly volley into the roof of the net, claiming his second of the game.
Bilic's delight
West Ham currently sit in 5th place, and will remain there if Manchester United fail to defeat Leicester City, who are one win away from being crowned champions, tomorrow. Slaven Bilic was understandably beaming with pride and joy following the win: "The goals helped, but it was not only the goals...the way we played with and without the ball; was quite magnificent in some moments”. He added, “All credit to the boys and with three games to go we are very confident and very hungry to finish on a high.”
With the final season at the Boleyn Ground coming to a close, West Ham have found a major positive in Slaven Bilic, who has seemed to have won over the dressing room and fans with his approach to games.
Midfield Magic
Bilic continued to praise his team, this time, the goal scorers: “When you have two of your holding midfielders scoring the three goals it shows you are playing good football.” Good football indeed from West Ham United, who are now unbeaten in their last ten in the Premier League.
After picking up a brace in today’s game, captain Mark Noble declared after the game that him and his teammates “don’t want the season to end...” The step up from West Ham this season has been remarkable to watch, it will be interesting how the club continue to move forward into their new stadium and the new season.
Proud Pulis impressed with Leko on his debut
Tony Pulis was also full of praise for West Ham: “Once you give a team like West Ham those goals, with the players they have, then they punish you”.
Pulis was complimentary in defeat, especially to West Brom debutant, 17-year-old Jonathan Leko. “Jonathan was fantastic,” praised Pulis, who went on the compare the teenager to that of Yannick Bolasie whom he managed at Crystal Palace. “...he has raw pace and talent, he can be a great player.”
It was an eventful day for West Ham United, who prepare for their penultimate game at the Boleyn Ground as they host Swansea City next weekend. West Brom face a visit to Bournemouth next week for their penultimate fixture of the season.