MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 10:47:44| >> :120:49222:49222:

Alan Irvine talks up absent David Moyes role in West Ham win over Wolves

Alan Irvine talks up absent David Moyes role in West Ham win over Wolves
© Reuters
The West Ham boss was absent for the Premier League match because he tested positive for Covid-19.

David Moyes equalled his biggest win as West Ham manager despite not being at the London Stadium.

Moyes, self-isolating after his positive Covid-19 test, was in constant contact with the Hammers bench as they thrashed Wolves 4-0 in Sunday’s Premier League contest.

Coach Stuart Pearce was up and down the stairs more often than he was up and down the wing as a player as he answered the phone to Moyes.

It did the trick as two goals from Jarrod Bowen and further strikes from Tomas Soucek and substitute Sebastien Haller secured West Ham’s first points of the season in style.

Assistant boss Alan Irvine, standing in on the touchline again, said: “David was in communication with Stuart all the way through the game – quite a lot, in fact – and that information was passed down.

“The subs were David’s, I certainly wasn’t going to be doing anything. I relayed his messages to the players.”

Irvine is making interim management simple, with West Ham scoring nine and conceding only one since he stepped in for the Carabao Cup win over Hull.

“It’s been enjoyable to be honest, from a selfish point of view to step up and deliver those messages to the players,” added Irvine, who will be in charge again at Everton in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie. Moyes is due back in work on Thursday.

Bowen opened the scoring with a fine finish after a quickly-taken free-kick from Pablo Fornals.

After the break Bowen tapped in the rebound after Fornals hit a post, Soucek headed the third and Haller wrapped up the scoring in added time.

Stoke City v West Ham United – Premier League – bet365 Stadium
Alan Irvine only felt relaxed when West Ham’s fourth goal went in (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It was tense for a lot of the time, but great once we got the fourth goal, then I felt I could relax,” said Irvine.

“It was a fantastic performance from start to finish, the players were outstanding.”

West Ham had not previously scored a single goal against Wolves since they returned to the Premier League.

West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League – London Stadium
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged it was a bad night in east London (Andy Rain/PA)

“It was a very bad performance, a bad game,” said Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

“A lot of things were wrong. Defensively we were not good. We were losing duels. and offensively we didn’t create.

“Every time West Ham attacked it was a chance of a goal. It was very disappointing. All the game was very bad.”

ID:416212: cacheID:416212:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7460:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!