A farewell to Moyes as Hammers hit Hatters with comeback

West Ham 3 Luton 1

It's not often you see David Moyes scarves on sale at Hackney Wick. I'm with daughter Lola, clad in her Haller shirt (whatever happened to Seb?) and back from an exile in the land of Hearts and Hibs. We're joined by Matt in the seats, wearing his Prague replica kit, as is Big Sam. Matt has just played at QPR for a team of hacks against Ed Balls, Sadiq Khan and David Miliband, tweaking both hamstrings in true West Ham style. Nigel is away at a mystery gig, Michael is doing a tour of Waitrose Britain and Fraser is on the treatment table and unable to make any farewell gestures towards Moyes.

It's another slow start for the Hammers with the side looking lethargic after a spanking at Chelsea. Doughty is allowed too much space on the left and crosses for Lokonga to head home, having run unchallenged from midfield and powered past Ogbonna.

Luckily Luton decide to sit on their lead, though only a fine tackle from Zouma denies them a second. The Irons huff and puff in the sunshine, but do create some chances. Kudus pounces on Luton's misplaced passes from the back but fires fide. Paqueta gets in an inviting cross that Jarrod Bowen volleys against the outside of the post and Ward-Prowse fires across the box with Antonio unable to react in time. 

For once whatever Moyes says to the side at half-time works. The Hammers come out remembering they are a football team and play with greater intensity. Nine minutes after the break Kaminski can only clear a Bowen cross with his legs and Ward-Prowse equalises with a precise shot into the corner for his seventh goal of the season. 

Kudus is causing a lot of problems with his mazy dribbles and another fine cross is headed towards the top corner by Antonio, needing a fingertip save from Kaminski. Emerson has a shot deflected for a corner. The resulting corner is cleared, but Chong is out-muscled by Coufal who feeds James Ward-Prowse who curls in an inviting cross. It's headed away to the edge of the box where Soucek meets it with a thumping volley to make it 2-1. Tomas wheels away dreaming of potato salad all summer and it's fitting a Moyes stalwart should have scored. That's ten this season for Soucek. 

THIS IS PLANET EARTHY

The crowd get going with some greatest hits of "West Ham are Massive!", "We know what we are..." and an unexpected "We've got Super David Moyes!" Kudus can only hit the outside of the post after being set up by Bowen as Antonio us replaced by 19-year-old George Earthy.

In the 76th minute Mo Kudus twists two Luton defenders inside out, gets to the byline and pulls back for Earthy to score with his first touch, the youngster having made a fine run to the near post. "Look at his face! Look at his face!" enthuses Lola. "He'll be getting extra Haribos tonight," I suggest. It's ironic that Moyes has had stick all season for not using subs or giving youngsters a chance. George celebrates with Mo Kudus sitting on the hoadings as Kurt Zouma fires up the crowd.

There's even time for young Casey to get a few minutes at the back as he replaces Ogbonna. The game is played out to a chorus of "Oles!" as "Moyes Champions of Europe" banners are unveiled. It's good to see Moyesy get some appreciation and the fans united. He's had a lot of very vociferous keyboard critics, but the majority of fans can see he's left the club in a much better place as we cement another top ten finish, even if the European dream is gone and the squad needs some rebuilding.

The Luton fans salute their team and Rob Edwards at the final whistle despite near-certain relegation and get sporting applause from the home fans. Eventually after the goal of the season is decided (it's Mo Kudus against Freiburg) the players emerge with their kids and partners for the lap of honour. We get to see Dani Dyer and Jarrod Bowen's twins on fire while Lucas Paqueta teaches his kids how to roll over and claim a foul. Tomas Soucek's offspring probably head junior fridges. Moyes salutes the crowd in his shirtsleeves and looks touched, as we mark the end of the Moyesball era. 

Matt heads to the Eagle and Lola and myself enjoy wine and a pint of Ja! IPA at The Library in Drayton Park, where the Arsenal fans wish the Hammers luck against City, which we'll need. Another season is over and ninth or tenth with a Europa League quarter final, plus wins at Spurs and Arsenal isn't that bad, despite some humiliating defeats. Now it's over to Mr Lopetegui after Man City away. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6; Coufal 7, Zouma 6, Ogbonna 6 (Casey n/a), Emerson 6 (Cresswell n/a); Soucek 7, Ward-Prowse7, Paqueta 6 (Ings n/a); Kudus 8, Antonio 6 (Earthy 7), Bowen 7.