West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea : 5 Talking Points

#1 Can West Ham kick on from this victory?

Arthur Masuaku was named the Man of the Match

Just as Crystal Palace’s first league victory this season against the defending champions set the tone for a consistent run of results for manager Roy Hodgson, West Ham boss David Moyes will hope that his side’s first victory of the season under his watch boosts their morale for the rest of the season.

With a busy festive season around the corner, a victory – a well-deserved one – against the reigning champions should give his side the required bout of confidence to accumulate the points needed to get themselves out of this relegation scrap.

The underperforming players during predecessor Slaven Bilic’s wretched final weeks as the manager are beginning to find their groove under Moyes.

The Scotsman likes to play a crossing style of football and his wingers and wing-backs in the form of Man-of-the-Match Arthur Masuaku, Mikhail Antonio and Pablo Zabaleta all stepped up their game when they went forward.

Marko Arnautovic’s height and physical strength make him an ideal target man and there are the services of Andy Carroll from the substitutes’ bench as well.

Mark Noble – often revered as Mr West Ham – gives nothing less than 100% as far as work-ethic is concerned, doing the necessary clean-up work in order to keep Chelsea frustrated. The centre-backs defended for their lives and had an answer to everything that came at them – be it teasing balls or powerful shots.

If the Hammers can stay together as a unit and put in such performances which reflect hard-work and a set game-plan, Moyes should steer his side clear of the bottom three before long.