Ings can only get better!

West Ham 4 (four) Nottingham Forest 0

On the way to the match Nigel has succumbed to some Moyes kidology, bemoaning the fact that the gaffer has said Danny Ings is, "not ready to start a game for three, four, five weeks." Yet at 2pm the news comes through that Ings is starting and Paqueta is back. Moyes has picked the side most fans wanted, reverting to a flat-back four with Benrahma restored on the left and Ben Johnson, rather surprisingly, replacing Emerson, who has been playing quite well.

Perhaps anticipating another drubbing Michael has bought a pharmacy bag of medication with him, while Matt is chastened to discover that his yellow hoodie is the same as Forest's away kit. There's a tribute to the great Bobby Moore who died 30 years ago this weekend before the kick-off and surprisingly, the Hammers start with great intent. The Irons force a series of corners that Navas punches away, with Benrahma and Bowen looking energetic and Paqueta at last starting to dominate midfield. 

Paqueta's low cross is deflected against the outside of the post by Felipe. The Hammers best chance comes when Danny Ings gets a close range header all wrong from Coufal's cross. "If even Ings is missing chances then we're doomed," muses the Vicar's Son.

Having dominated the half there's a scare at the end as Brannon Johnson goes down under pressure from Ben Johnson. The ref rules, correctly, that Johnson tumbled rather theatrically after only slight contact.

OH DANNY BOY

Nigel takes his lucky banana out of its banana case at half-time to try and change our fortunes. The Irons continue to dominate, despite Coufal going off and being replaced by Cresswell. But we know it isn't our day when, after good build-up play from Paqueta and Benrahma, the hard-working Bowen races through to power a shot against the inside of the post. Seconds late Paqueta chips just over the bar. At least the crowd comes alive after that, the mood having been quiet and resigned for much of the game.

There are more problems as Fabianski takes a knock and has to be replaced by Areola. It's drifting towards a goalless draw but on 71 minutes something incredible happens. Ings plays a good ball out wide to Bowen on the right. Jarrod dribbles into the box and Ings sweeps home. It's a great finish as the ball is slightly behind him. Ings looks offside, but after a VAR check it's a goal as Danny has timed his run perfectly and is just onside. It's all very confusing, as we're just not used to seeing well-timed runs at West Ham.

Two minutes later Paqueta shows good determination to feed Benrahma on the left. Said skips over a tackle and his cross is bundled home by Ings, who is on the ground but has somehow managed to flick the ball in with his heel. A real poacher's goal. David Moyes reprises his Manuel Lanzini at Spurs dad dance.

RICE BABY

Then Rice plays a give and go with Benrahma and on the edge of the area scores a sumptuous shot into the top corner to spark jubilation all over the London Stadium. As Graham Taylor might say, "What sort of thing is happening here?" 

The crowd start to give every WHU pass some "oles". As an extra bonus we get the chance to boo Forest subs Jesse Lingard and another ex-Hammer in Andre Ayew. Ings is replaced by Antonio and receives a deserved ovation. He's the first predator in the box we've had since Chicharito. On 84 minutes minutes Cresswell finds sub Fornals who stands the ball up nicely for Antonio to head home with his first touch. Fraser who has been known to smoke a cigar for every goal West Ham score, starts to worry as he only has eight cigars with him. 

Credit too to Areola, who late on produces a brilliant save from Toffolo to preserve a clean sheet. Ogbonna has kept Chris Wood quiet and with Paqueta starting to look like a £50 million player, Benrahma getting two assists and West Ham finally scoring from crosses it's been a good day all round.

OVER THE RAINBOW

Outside the ground a rainbow rises over Stratford as if to mark the miracle of the Hammers scoring four goals. Nigel might even think it's Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. We file off to the Eagle with an air of disbelief and over Whitstable Bay ale amuse ourselves by spinning tabloid headlines such as, "'Moyes must stay' says Fraser." 

When did we last score four? Statto Nigel thinks it was away to Norwich last season. There's a long way to go, but this result brings Forest back into the pack and takes West Ham out of the bottom three. If we can keep playing like this then we'll surely rise up the table. Irons!

PLAYER RATIUNGS: Fabianski 6 (Areola 7); Coufal 6, Ogbonna 7, Aguerd 6, Johnson 6 (Cresswell 6); Rice 8, Soucek 7; Benrahma 8 (Fornals 7), Paqueta 8 (Lanzini 6), Bowen 8; Ings 9 (Antonio 7).