{"id":947,"date":"2026-04-26T08:53:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T08:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=947"},"modified":"2026-04-26T08:53:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T08:53:41","slug":"irony-for-david-moyes-as-nuno-escapes-fan-rage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=947","title":{"rendered":"Irony for David Moyes as Nuno escapes fan rage"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

There was bitter irony for David Moyes as one of his best ever signings put in a 10\/10 display in West Ham\u2019s crucial 2-1 win over Everton \u2013 getting Nuno Espirito Santo out of a hole in the process.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nuno Espirito Santo has done a marvellous job to turn West Ham around since January.<\/p>\n

\n

But many West Ham fans were not happy with the Portuguese\u2019s tactics as the Hammers sat back and settled for a point at Crystal Palace on Monday night.<\/p>\n

Supporters felt it was a huge opportunity missed against a Palace side who were there for the taking as they missed key players and had their minds on their forthcoming European semi-final.<\/p>\n

Irony as Moyes\u2019 best ever West Ham signings see off Everton<\/h2>\n

The only way for West Ham to make that Palace point a good one was to go and beat Everton on David Moyes\u2019 return to the London Stadium.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what they did, although some would argue in spite of Nuno.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

Who was YOUR MOTM vs Everton and why? \ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf89<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"West<\/div>
Photo by Warren Little\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

And there was a layer of irony to Everton\u2019s defeat as it was largely thanks to Moyes\u2019 best ever West Ham signings Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.<\/p>\n

The Scot signed super Tommy Soucek and Bowen for a combined \u00a335m in the same January window back in 2020. They are comfortably the best value for money signings in modern West Ham history.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Tomas<\/div>
Photo by Warren Little\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pair have been the club\u2019s best and most consistent players ever since.<\/p>\n

Soucek has been the bane of Everton\u2019s lives both before and since Moyes left the London Stadium to return to Merseyside.<\/p>\n

Moyes names Soucek and Bowen among the best ever signings of his career as a manager and even credited them with his OBE.<\/p>\n

The big Czech put in his best all-round performance of the season as he scored West Ham\u2019s first and was hands down the man of the match.<\/p>\n

Bowen was quieter but added to his phenomenal record for West Ham with two more assists.<\/p>\n

Super Soucek, Bowen and Wilson get Nuno off the hook with Hammers fans<\/h2>\n

First he laid on Soucek\u2019s header from a brilliantly whipped corner to put the Hammers 1-0 up.<\/p>\n

Then Bowen coolly nodded down for Callum Wilson to net a late winner after Everton had equalised.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Has Tomas Soucek silenced his doubters for good with THAT Everton goal?<\/h3>\n

Not a bad way to celebrate Prem start number 200\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Tomas<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

With Spurs narrowly beating Wolves 1-0, West Ham had to win to avoid slipping back into the relegation zone at the expense of their bitter rivals.<\/p>\n

They managed to cling on despite a late scare and it was Soucek and Bowen, Moyes\u2019 best buys, who put their old boss to the sword.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Callum<\/div>
Photo by Warren Little\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They, and poacher Wilson, also helped their current manager avoid more fan anger over his tactics and substitutions.<\/p>\n

Nuno had his team sitting far too deep and inviting pressure which eventually told when the Toffees equalised.<\/p>\n

He got away with it this time, though, as West Ham secured what could be one of their most vital wins in years.<\/p>\n

The Hammers can now pile pressure on Spurs by beating Brentford next Saturday and going five points clear.<\/p>\n

Tottenham then have to go to Champions League chasing Aston Villa on the Sunday.<\/p>\n

Other notable West Ham performances came from Axel Disasi and Konstantinos Mavropanos, who were both rock solid yet again for the most part.<\/p>\n

Kyle Walker-Peters was excellent while Crysencio Summerville huffed and puffed and Mateus Fernandes controlled the midfield battle.<\/p>\n

Crucially the victory means West Ham\u2019s survival fate remains in their own hands with four games to go.<\/p>\n

The wins may also just keep Nottingham Forest in the mix too.<\/p>\n

West Ham player ratings vs Everton:<\/h2>\n

Hermansen: 9\/10, Walker-Peters: 8.5\/10, Mavropanos: 9.5\/10, Disasi: 9.5\/10, Diouf: 7.5\/10, Soucek: 10\/10, Fernandes: 7.5\/10, Summerville: 7\/10, Bowen: 7\/10, Pablo, Castellanos: 6\/10: 5\/10.<\/p>\n

Subs: Wilson: 8\/10, Potts: 5\/10, Todibo: 6\/10.<\/p>\n

Nuno: 7\/10.<\/p>\n

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Team<\/strong><\/th>\nRemaining fixtures (Opponent + H\/A)<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
West Ham United<\/strong><\/td>\nBrentford (A), Arsenal (H), Newcastle United (A) and Leeds United (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tottenham Hotspur<\/td>\nAston Villa (A), Leeds United (H), Chelsea (A) and Everton (H)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n