Joe Hart thanks West Ham fans for backing team as Cheikhou Kouyate earns Leicester draw
David Moyes was spared a Hammers supporter revolt at the London Stadium last night — but only just
DAVID MOYES was spared a West Ham fan revolt at the London Stadium last night — but only just.
Cheikhou Kouyate rescued a point for the Hammers against Leicester on his new manager’s home debut.
The result will be a relief for Moyes but it was not enough to drag his strugglers out of the relegation zone.
West Ham No 1 Joe Hart hailed the home support. He said: “The fans were fantastic, it would have been easy to carry on hammering us.
“But they got behind us and it meant the world.
“It could have gone two ways tonight and they chose to stick with us.
“The manager asked for quality, he wants goals but, first and foremost, he wants us to perform.
“He wants us to be disciplined and I think we managed that.”
Moyes’ first game as boss ended in a 2-0 loss at Watford last week.
And restless fans were already primed to turn on the former Manchester United manager.
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It did not start well as his side conceded just eight minutes in.
The hosts’ defence was static as Foxes striker Jamie Vardy burst forward to set up Marc Albrighton.
Sky pundit Gary Neville pulled no punches as he tore into the Hammers.
He said: “The first goal was an absolute joke.
“I cannot believe how deep they are. It is very difficult to get a back four that disorganised.
“That amount of mistakes is unbelievable.”
Kouyate headed West Ham level from a corner on the stroke of half-time.
Team-mate Andy Carroll said: “It was tough. We had to work hard.
“We probably could have got three points but it’s a good start for us.”