Bowen and Antonio see off Derby

Derby County 0 West Ham United 2 (FA Cup)

It's Monday night at home in front of ITV 4 for this cup-tie. Nice of them to ruin it for us by having the draw just before kick-off — and yet again West Ham are drawn away to Man United. That's three times we've drawn the Mancs away in the last two seasons and the fifth time we've drawn MUFC in seven seasons. Infamy, infamy...

Derby are now a League One club with a fine stadium but not much brass, but at least they are still in existence which was in doubt last year. The Irons start well, with Downes making a fine tackle to release Bowen, who fires at the keeper. After ten minutes comes a welcome opener to deflate the crowd. Antonio's shot is blocked, but Downes plays a short ball to Soucek who plays a one-two with Antonio. Soucek unselfishly heads Antonio's return across the goal for Bowen to fire home.

Derby rarely threaten and we get plenty of time to admire Aguerd's control and left foot passes. Antonio and Bowen are lively up front and Fornals dithers when he should have shot. "How shit must you be we're winning away?" chant the West Ham fans, followed by "My name is Ludek Miklosko..."

The second half sees the game put to bed as Fornals pounces on some lax midfield play to put in a through ball that is deflected to Bowen. Jarrod's cross nicks a defender and sits up nicely for Antonio to head home.

Sub Dobbin has a few decent runs for Derby, but the rest of the game is spent enjoying the chants of, "Ten men men went to carry, went to carry Lampard." Bowen should make it three after sub Benrahma plays him through and young Mubama comes on and does a few bits of good hold-up play.

So a fairly easy win without Rice and Paqueta, and now a massive task at Old Trafford. Still, we won there in the Carabao Cup next season and we have to beat the top sides to progress. Though I do fear our cup final breakfast in Kew might just be postponed for another season.

Ashby goes to Newcastle

Harrison Ashby has signed for Newcastle for £3 million after refusing to sign a new contract with the Hammers. On the face of it £3m for a lad who has only played in one league game and six cup games isn't bad business. Though clearly Eddie Howe rates him and it's a bit disturbing that both Ashby and Sonny Perkins refused to stay with WHU. Ashby would have had to get past Vladimir Coufal, Ben Johnson and Thilo Kehrer to make the first team, though he's also up against Kieron Trippier at Newcastle. The last promising right-back to depart, Jeremy Ngakia, hasn't progressed that much at Watford. Still, it's a shame to see 'H' depart, though along with the sale of Craig Dawson it does raise more cash towards te Danny Ings fee.

Kurt crocked as well

The Everton victory is proving costly in terms of injuries. The latest reports claim that Kurt Zouma could be out for up to a month with the thigh injury he picked up during the first half. We could see from the Billy Bonds Stand that he was struggling and it was a surprise that he played on through some obvious discomfort. Zouma really should have been subbed — historically West Ham seem to have a problem with not taking off injured players. I recall Andy Carroll once making a bad injury worse by playing on at Southampton. 

Yes, it was a must-win game but with Ogbonna and Aguerd on the pitch caution would have been advisable. Now with Dawson sold WHU are down to three centre-backs, and one of those Thilo Kehrer, who has been disappointing so far. All this has happened just when Moyes was finally getting his best two centre-backs, Zouma and Aguerd, forming an effective partnership. The only plus is that there's a two-week gap until the next league game at Newcastle and that Zouma is a quick healer. Only please don't rush him back too soon.

Ings' knee can only get better?

This is peak West Ham. Danny Ings seemed fine giving interviews after the Everton match but now we learn he has a "slight knee injury" after a late tackle that will keep him out of the Newcastle and Chelsea games and probably Spurs away too. With Gianluca Scamacca also having a troublesome ankle that leaves WHU back with Antonio as the only fit striker. At least Micky had a decent game against Everton. But after Aguerd's injury in his first friendly at Rangers you do wonder if there is an unwritten rule that any new signing must get injured in their first match and that Antonio must always be our only striker. Nurse, the screens. 

Bowen's twin strike wins El Sackico for Moyes

West Ham 2 (two) Everton 0

It's off to the Best Meze Cafe for pre-match fine cuisine, where Nigel has ticked off a new ground at Haringey Borough FC and booked tickets to Walsall versus Barrow with Reg. The bad news is that he has forgotten his 'lucky' banana. 

We're joined by Michael, Matt and Lisa. Our party is left reeling by some inflationary price increases, as my egg, chips and beans and a cup of tea now costs £8 and Michael needs a second mortgage to buy his omelette and chips. Maybe Jeremy Hunt could explain it all with some coffee cups.

We meet Fraser in the ground, where Mark Noble is on the pitch with the family of David Gold in a tribute to WHU's late chairman. Moyes has dropped Soucek and Cresswell and is fielding the returning Kurt Zouma in what looks like his best available side. 

There's an early fashion faux pas as we spot that Matt's yellow hoodie matches Everton's away strip. It's a nervous start from both sides in El Sackico, with two sets of five-man defences, an early Everton claim for handball in the box and an injury scare to Zouma, who plays on like Monty Python's Black Knight.

The nerves of the fans are improved when Benrahma finally gets a shot away towards the top corner, which Pickford tips over. The crucial goal arrives after 34 minutes. A West Ham corner is cleared but wing-back Emerson pings in another cross. Zouma gets a head to it and in nips Jarrod Bowen to score. There's a nervy VAR pause but he proves to be onside by the width of James Tarkowski's boot. Jarrod celebrates the news that he is having twins with Dani Dyer by stuffing the ball up his shirt and sucking both thumbs. It's his first goal in ten games and just the confidence boost he needed.

BOWEN'S DOUBLE TOP

Five minutes later the second goal arrives. Antonio is too quick for a rash tackle by Tarkowski and escapes down the right flank. His cross is swept home by Bowen, who has managed to get ahead of two defenders. Never in doubt.

There's a scare before half-time as Iwobi's shot is deflected by Rice against the outside of the post. In the concourse we meet Steve the Cornish Postie, who has travelled up from the west country in the belief that West Ham need all the strikers they can get. Though he still doesn't know where my Christmas cards are. 

The second half sees Everton have a lot of possession and Calvert-Lewin almost gets on the end of an Iwobi cross. But Zouma is solid and Aguerd has a fine game at the back. The best two chances fall to West Ham on the break. A brilliant return ball from Benrahma sets Emerson free and the left-back's shot is tipped on to the bar by Pickford. When Benrahma cleverly finds Rice on the half-way line, Declan surges into the Toffees' box to fire across goal and just wide.

TWO-NIL IN OUR CUP FINAL

Danny Ings gets to come on for Antonio and then Moyes goes slightly sub crazy, bringing on Johnson, Soucek and Downes. The home fans get to sing the Big Fat Frank song and a chorus of, "You're getting sacked in the morning!" The away fans are dispirited and it's hard not to feel sorry for the Everton supporters. The club has burned through a lot of managers who have done better elsewhere, like Marco Silva, and wasted a lot of money on sub-standard players. A lack of goals in the side is their big problem, while Lampard has inherited a squad put together by six different gaffers.

At the end Oggy does a celebration jig for the fans. This is a much-needed win for West Ham and with the squad we have surely the side can reach mid-table. Finally Moyes has been able to field Zouma and Aguerd together alongside Ogbonna and the defence has looked much more solid. While the arrival of Ings means WHU have an unprecedented three strikers at the club.

Matt and Lisa depart to see The Delgados at Shepherd's Bush, while the rest of us head off to The Eagle, unfamiliar with the sensation of celebrating a West Ham win. There's Doom Bar in the fridge and Zombie on the jukebox. Fraser, who has never doubted the Moyesiah (much) has helpfully laid on table service as Nigel wonders if there is a Deep Purple musical he can visit with his birthday vouchers. With games against Newcastle, Chelsea and Spurs coming up we can't be complacent. But this was more like it from the Irons.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Coufal 6, Zouma 7, Aguerd 8, Ogbonna 7, Emerson 7 (Johnson 6); Rice 8, Paqueta 6 (Soucek 6), Benrahma 8 (Downes 6); Bowen 8, Antonio 7 (Ings 6).

Farewell Ballon D'Orson

Sad to see that Craig Dawson is going to Wolves for £3.3 million. The Rochdale Beckenbauer became something of a cult during his three seasons at West Ham. Craig might not be the most skilful player in the world but he relished the ugly part of defending and has to be one of the best players at blocking in the division. He always showed massive commitment on the pitch.

Dawson is very underrated and was a better signing than James Tarkowski for whom West Ham once bid £30m. He was also very useful at set-pieces and scored a lot of goals for a centre-back including the opener at Lyon last season. And there was a nerveless penalty against Man City in the Carabao Cup shoot-out. 

There's nothing much we can do if he wants to move closer to his family up north and he is pushing 33 — while WHU now have a lot of centre-backs. But you certainly wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of one of his tackles. Thank you for the daze, Craig.

Ings can only get better?

Signing Danny Ings could be just what West Ham need. He's not a particularly sexy signing but the 30-year-old is a proven goalscorer. He has scored every three games throughout his career and averaged close to one every two game for Burnley. A move to Liverpool was ruined by an ACL injury and then a bad knee injury to his other leg. But with the aid of careful rehabilitation and Pilates he flourished at Southampton scoring 41 goals in 91 games. The Saints fans were incensed when he left. Seventeen months ago Aston Villa paid £30m for him and despite being deemed surplus to requirements by Dick Emery he scored 13 in 49 games and has bagged six this season. He's scored 122 goals in his career and with Antonio looking his age and Scamacca struggling we need his poaching. Strangely enough Ings will now have played for all three clubs to play in the PL in claret and blue — Burnley, Villa and West Ham. Even at £12 (£15m if WHU stay up) he could prove to be an astute signing.

Half the season left — is it time to panic?

Well, the Everton game is looking vital to David Moyes' future. There's no doubt he's done brilliantly for West Ham in the past, steering the club clear of relegation twice and then finishing sixth and seventh and reaching the Europas League semi-finals, as well as winning all six games in the Europa Conference this season. It's also worth noting that most of those online critics who now call him an outdated dinosaur were also praising him last season. But having said that, this bad run is massively worrying. A loss to Everton would mean one point from eight games. This season it seems other teams have rumbled Moyes' system of a deep defensive block with West Ham scoring on the break or from set-pieces, while the expensive new signings are floundering.

Ideally we will beat Everton and retain Moyes. Having allowed him to spend £160 million it makes sense to allow him time to change tactics, get his new signings firing and avoid the upheaval of a new manager wanting to change the squad yet again. There is half a season left, and if the side's luck can turn Moyes would surely have enough know-how to keep the side up.

Should we lose to Everton and fire Moyes then what are the options? Pochettino and Tuchel are out of WHU's league. Sean Dyche has the most impressive PL record of the unemployed gaffers and can certainly motivate players, though would the crowd take to his route one style and can he deal with star players? Benitez would be very defensive and Wolves' former boss Nuno Espirito Santo did well in the Midlands but was very reliant on an influx of Portuguese talent and failed at Spurs. And there's always the risk Sullivan would go for Big Sam again. Our best hope might be if Chelsea lost patience with Graham Potter.

Stick or twist, it's not going to be easy. Though in a perverse kind of way I've missed relegation struggles. We're back to the bad old days of really pepping it up and making it mediocre. Twenty five more points and we're safe!

Hammers and Moyes now in big trouble

Wolves 1 West Ham 0

Another unconvincing away performance and another defeat against an improving Wolves side. Moyes' refusal to trust Benrahma may well cost him his job with the Algerian omitted again and  the out-of-form Antonio favoured over Scamacca. Dawson was also left out with a move to Wolves a possibility, though we can ill-afford to lose him. 

Wolves had the better of a dull first half but the Irons did have the best chance when after a tussle with Bowen the ball fell to Coufal who scuffed his shot into a Wolves defender. After a decent start to the second half from the Irons the winner came from a West Ham corner, won by Antonio. Wolves broke and the ball deflected rather luckily off Cresswell into the path of Podence, who scored with a fine finish. 

The Hammers improved after Benrahma and Scamacca came on, but we can't keep waiting unto the last 20 minutes to start playing. Wolves were unlucky when Neves hit the bar and then Ait-Nouri hit the rebound against the post. Benrahma did force Sa into a save and late on Scamacca headed wide, but it never seemed that likely the Hammers would equalise.

So that's one point from seven games and the Hammers in the bottom three. All confidence seems to have gone from the likes of Bowen, Antonio, Soucek and Scamacca and Paqueta is still under-performing. The only positive was that Zouma made the bench. It seems very unlikely that both Moyes and Frank Lampard can survive next week's relegation six-pointer with Everton. League form has been poor for a year now and as the Stranglers once sang, Something Better Change. A win next Saturday is vital. 

Benrahma seals morale-boosting win at Brentford

Brentford 0 West Ham 1 (FA Cup)

Brentford play a side of mostly squad players for this, though the Irons managed to lose to Blackburn's reserves in the Carabao Cup, so it's still a difficult game against one of WHU's bogey teams. Apart from Coufal was was crocked by a bad Summerville foul at Leeds and Scamacca who was feeling his knee, Moyes plays a full-strength side.

Those who watched on iffy TV feeds said it was a poor game. Wissa and Lewis-Potter had a couple of half-chances for Brentford and Soucek missed a really good chance after being set up by Emerson. It wasn't settled unto the 79th minute when Rice made a great tackle to free sub Benrahma who shot from distance. A great strike, though Brentford reserve keeper Strakosha should have done better. Said, who refused to celebrate against his former side, now has six goals and is West Ham's second top scorer.

It's a good psychological boost to win any game and particularly against Brentford who have defeated us in all three games since promotion. So the Cup Final breakfast round at Nigel's gaff in Kew remains on — at least until we see who we get in the 4th Round draw today.

Point at Leeds stops the rot

Leeds United 2 West Ham United 2

It's a nerve-shredding evening listening to this on the radio and learning on WhatsApp that Michael is listening with Harry the possibly lucky cat and that Matt, Lisa and Nigel are discussing commemorative Iron Maiden stamps.

After a respectful tribute to David Gold the Hammers make a lively start but are again undone by a throw-in, as Summerville sets up Gnonto to score with a crisp finish. Kehrer is looking out of position at left-back (why not play Emerson there if Cresswell is dropped?) and we fear the worst. But the Hammers keep going and Coufal almost catches out Meslier with a long-distance lob.

With half-time approaching Scamacca feeds the ball inside and Bowen is brought down in the box. The ref plays a good advantage only for Fornals to shoot wide of an open goal. Luckily VAR intervenes and the penalty is given. Lucas Paqueta does a stop-start run-up and expertly puts it in the top corner with a classy penalty for his first West Ham goal.

A minute into the second half West Ham are ahead. Aaronson plays a loose ball to Scamacca, who fires home a great low strike from 25 yards out that goes in off the post. As Moyes says, Gianluca should be getting tap-ins too, but that strike is evidence that he can be a bit special.

It's a good chance to get three points but when Jack Harrison comes on Leeds put the Irons under heavy pressure. Rice is caught trying to mark two players and Rodrigo fires home another quality finish.

Fabianski has to tip over from Rodrigo and Antonio clears a header off the line. Sub Benrahma causes problems on the break and his cross is very nearly put into the net by fellow sub Antonio. It's left to Fabianski to gain a point with the last action of five added minutes as he claws away Rodrigo's header with a brilliant reaction save.

It's been a great game for the neutral and in the end we're grateful for a point that ends the run of five successive defeats — though it was also a missed opportunity. There is work to be done defensively and in midfield and WHU still need to grab a win from the Wolves or Everton matches. But defeat would have seen us slip into the bottom three, so an away point is still some kind of progress. Irons!

RIP David Gold

Just to compound West Ham's sense of crisis, co-chairman David Gold has died at the age of 86. Gold, Sullivan and Brady remain unpopular with some fans, but when I interviewed David Gold at his house a few yeas go he seemed be a genuine fan of West Ham, with pictures of the Play-Off Final on the wall. He was eager to describe visiting Upton Park as a boy and clearly had a great sense of pride at growing up in poverty at 442 Green Street but ending up co-owning West Ham. And for all the criticism, the co-owners certainly backed Dvid Moyes with £160m this season. 

Quite where this leaves West Ham's ownership situation is not as yet clear. Will Gold's two daughters inherit his shares in the club or might they sell up to David Sullivan or Daniel Kretinsky? Whatever happens, let's hope the lads produce a good performance in his memory at Leeds tonight.

Moyes still has credit left but needs to turn it round fast

After saving West Ham from relegation twice and then steering the club to sixth and seventh-placed finishes and a Europa League semi-final David Moyes deserves time to turn things round. But the next four games are vital after five defeats. Should West Ham fail to get a win against any of Leeds, Wolves and Everton and fail to progress in the FA Cup against Brentford then the board would surely have to act. Premier League managers tend not to survive winless runs of eight matches.

The stats against Brentford show that the Irons had 63 per cent of possession, 20 shots to Brentford's nine and eight corners to Brentford's one. It was a game WHU should have won but  lost through basic defensive errors and lack of creativity in the final third. Moyes tried playing Paqueta in a deeper role and later pairing Scamacca and Antonio together but it didn't work on the night. The team is trying to transition from a counter-attacking side to a possession outfit, but the suspicion remains that Moyes has bought too many Rolls-Royce players who won't fancy a relegation fight. 

After a great start to last season the Hammers haven't played really well in the league since January last year, scraping some home victories and underperforming away. The return of Zouma and Aguerd might help. The talent is there but the players need to realise the seriousness of the situation and fight for every ball at Leeds on Wednesday.