West Ham 2 Watford 0: Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic goals seal key win for Hammers

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Tom Doyle10 February 2018

Goals from Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic were enough to see West Ham seal an important 2-0 Premier League win against Watford at London Stadium.

Hernandez's future has been uncertain at times this season, but the Mexico international scored his third goal in four League games to earn a crucial three points for David Moyes' Hammers.

As is so often the case with Hernandez, the former Manchester United forward ghosted into space and met Antonio Conte's cross to head the Hammers in front 38 minutes in.

And Arnautovic - back in the team after missing the last two League games through injury - took advantage of a deflected corner to score the Hammers' second goal 12 minutes from time to ensure all three points.

REUTERS

The result brought Watford back down to earth after Javi Gracia's men dismantled champions Chelsea 4-1 on Monday night, and the Hornets remain locked in a relegation dogfight after this disappointing defeat.

Three points give West Ham more breathing space as the relegation battle remains tight, but Moyes will be well aware that a couple of bad results will put the east London club right back into the mix.

Before the match, West Ham's under-fire joint-owner David Sullivan admitted he wanted the Scot to remain at the helm.

Tellingly, Sullivan also announced he would be stepping away from transfers following the club's failure to strengthen in the January window.

Yet it is the Hammers' marquee summer signings, Hernandez and Arnautovic, who are now flourishing following the slow starts to the season which mirrored that of the team.

Getty Images

Watford actually carved open the first opportunities of an open game, Etienne Capoue with a shot deflected over and, from the corner, Adrian Mariappa's header forcing a smart save from Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.

But when Arnautovic, fit again after three games out injured, began to get on the ball West Ham looked a totally different team, especially to the one which surrendered so meekly at Brighton last weekend.

Arnautovic's mazy run into the area was clumsily ended by Mariappa's challenge but referee Graham Scott saw nothing wrong and Joao Mario fired the loose ball straight at Hornets custodian Orestis Karnezis.

Hernandez then had a goal ruled out for the narrowest of offsides as he headed a Mario free-kick past Karnezis.

Arnautovic was presented with a glorious chance when James Collins headed the ball across goal, only to shoot too close to Karnezis.

But moments later West Ham's pressure finally told when, not for the first time, Michail Antonio tore past Daryl Janmaat and crossed for the unmarked Hernandez to nod in his third goal in five games.

REUTERS

Watford, having stunned Chelsea 4-1 in their last outing on Monday night, dominated after the break but without really testing Adrian, other than a Gerard Deulofeu free-kick which the Spaniard palmed away at his near post.

Hernandez looked odds on to double the lead with 20 minutes left when he sprung the offside trap and skipped past Mariappa and Sebastian Prodl, but he dawdled momentarily and allowed Karnezis to smother the ball.

But seven minutes later Arnautovic wrapped up the win with the goal his display deserved, a close-range finish after Watford failed to clear Aaron Cresswell's low cross.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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