West Ham boss David Moyes says he is not thinking about the top four after his side got their season back on track by coming from behind to overwhelm Watford.
The Hammers had gone into the game with just one win in seven games – a run that had seen them seemingly slip out of contention for the Champions League places.
It looked like the slump was going to continue when Emmanuel Dennis knocked the ball past Craig Dawson in the fourth minute before firing a superb strike into the top corner.
However, West Ham hit back with two goals in two first-half minutes and doubled that in the second half to move fifth – and within four points of fourth-place Arsenal.
Asked how important the win was to make sure his side kept up with the Champions League contenders, Moyes said: “We are not talking about the top four, you are.
“We are only talking about doing the best we can, challenging the top, trying to be in and around the top teams if we can.
“We enjoyed it when we were in the top four and now looking forward, wanting to get back in again.”
West Ham initially struggled to impose themselves in the game but improved as the first half wore on and then shocked the Hornets with two quickfire goals.
First, Jarrod Bowen picked out Tomas Soucek and the midfielder equalised in the 27th minute with a first-time finish before Said Benrahma put the visitors ahead with a deflected strike.
West Ham ensured there was no way back for the hosts when Mark Noble converted a second-half penalty, awarded after a VAR review for a poor challenge inside the box on Bowen, who had a goal ruled out moments earlier for a foul in the build-up.
The excellent Bowen was again involved as the visitors sealed the success in injury time, cutting the ball back for Nikola Vlasic to side-foot home his first goal for the club.
While the Hammers are looking up again, Watford – who were booed off at full-time – are 17th and two points outside the relegation zone following a third successive home defeat.
Hammers end poor run but Hornets’ struggles continue
This was a much-needed win for a West Ham side that appeared to be struggling to show the form that had them challenging at the top end.
Even at the start of this game their quick, crisp counter-attacking football was rarely evident but, as Watford failed to build on their bright opening, the Hammers became more confident and looked more like their old selves.
Having been in danger of slipping out of the top six over the festive period, this victory means they can now refocus their push to finish in the top four.
For Watford, however, this was a disappointing loss, particularly as they were considerably more rested than West Ham, with this their first game since 10 December because of Covid-19 issues while the Hammers had played four times since then.
The form of summer signing Dennis, who scored his eighth goal of the season on Tuesday, has been one of the few bright spots of their campaign and he will undoubtedly have a big say in determining what division his side are playing in next season.
However, Watford now face the prospect of having to try to pull themselves away from the bottom three during January without their talismanic forward, who will be away for much of the month with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We started very well and then in one minute conceded two goals,” said boss Claudio Ranieri.
“We must help each other to find the right solution individually and also as a team because [it is] not possible to continue this way.”
Player of the match
BowenJarrod Bowen
Watford
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Squad number25Player nameDennisAverage rating
6.76
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Squad number7Player nameKingAverage rating
5.78
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Squad number19Player nameSissokoAverage rating
5.50
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Squad number15Player nameCathcartAverage rating
5.33
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Squad number26Player nameBachmannAverage rating
5.29
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Squad number21Player nameKiko FemeníaAverage rating
5.16
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Squad number31Player nameSierraltaAverage rating
5.13
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Squad number11Player nameMasinaAverage rating
5.12
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Squad number29Player nameCucho HernándezAverage rating
5.12
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Squad number33Player nameKuckaAverage rating
4.99
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Squad number18Player nameTufanAverage rating
4.98
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Squad number10Player nameJoão PedroAverage rating
4.97
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Squad number6Player nameLouzaAverage rating
4.65
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Squad number12Player nameSemaAverage rating
4.07
West Ham United
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Squad number20Player nameBowenAverage rating
8.48
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Squad number22Player nameBenrahmaAverage rating
7.87
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Squad number28Player nameSoucek
Average rating7.74
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Squad number11Player nameVlasic
Average rating7.73
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Squad number1Player nameFabianski
Average rating7.55
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Squad number9Player nameAntonio
Average rating7.54
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Squad number10Player nameLanzini
Average rating7.45
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Squad number16Player nameNoble
Average rating7.41
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Squad number5Player nameCoufal
Average rating7.28
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Squad number31Player nameJohnson
Average rating7.03
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Squad number33Player nameKrál
Average rating6.83
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Squad number15Player nameDawson
Average rating6.83
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Squad number23Player nameDiop
Average rating6.78
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Squad number26Player nameMasuaku
Average rating6.74
Line-ups
Watford
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 26Bachmann
- 21FemeníaSubstituted forLouzaat 40′minutes
- 31Sierralta
- 15Cathcart
- 11Masina
- 33Kucka
- 29HernándezSubstituted forJoão Pedroat 45′minutes
- 18TufanSubstituted forSemaat 62′minutes
- 19Sissoko
- 7King
- 25Dennis
Substitutes
- 6Louza
- 10João Pedro
- 12Sema
- 16Gosling
- 17Fletcher
- 41Angelini
- 42Morris
- 45Conteh
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fabianski
- 5Coufal
- 15DawsonBooked at 81mins
- 23Diop
- 31JohnsonSubstituted forMasuakuat 82′minutes
- 16Noble
- 28Soucek
- 20Bowen
- 10LanziniSubstituted forKrálat 90′minutes
- 22BenrahmaSubstituted forVlasicat 85′minutes
- 9Antonio
Substitutes
- 7Yarmolenko
- 11Vlasic
- 13Areola
- 24Fredericks
- 26Masuaku
- 33Král
- 40Oko-Flex
- 42Alese
- 50Ashby
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 20,073
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Watford 1, West Ham United 4.
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Second Half ends, Watford 1, West Ham United 4.
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Corner, Watford. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.
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Attempt saved. Francisco Sierralta (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Imran Louza with a cross.
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Corner, Watford. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.
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Attempt saved. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by João Pedro.
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Goal! Watford 1, West Ham United 4. Nikola Vlasic (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jarrod Bowen.
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Attempt saved. Michail Antonio (West Ham United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jarrod Bowen.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Alex Král replaces Manuel Lanzini.
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Foul by Nikola Vlasic (West Ham United).
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Juraj Kucka (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Adam Masina (Watford).
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Attempt blocked. João Pedro (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Nikola Vlasic (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Juraj Kucka (Watford).
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Substitution, West Ham United. Nikola Vlasic replaces Saïd Benrahma.
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Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).
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Corner, Watford. Conceded by Craig Dawson.
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