Team in focus: West Ham - strengths, weaknesses & prospects

Premier League

Watford 1 West Ham 3
Gray 17 Noble 3 (pen), Haller 64, 73

Watford v West Ham match report

This was an entertaining game with both teams committed to attacking football, but West Ham ran out worthy winners after creating the majority of the clear-cut chances.

Watford's high defensive line was an accident waiting to happen.

A West Ham counter-attack preceded the concession of a third- minute penalty which Mark Noble converted, but Watford responded with some excellent football and Andre Gray's well-worked 17th minute goal was probably the best move of the game.

The pattern of the second half was similar with Watford having the lion's share of territory and possession and West Ham looking dangerous on the break.

Watford's always looked likely to concede further chances and West Ham's impressive new signing Sebastien Haller punished them with two well-taken goals.

West Ham's tactics

Manuel Pellegrini set up with a 4-2-3-1 formation which gave them an ideal platform against a Watford side who were perhaps striving too much to right the wrongs of a poor start to the season.

Holding midfielders Noble and Declan Rice offered protection against the waves of Watford attacks and there was always a threat on the counter with Manuel Lanzini pulling the strings and wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson offering pace and penetration.

West Ham's strengths

The spine of the Hammers' team was stronger than Watford's. Centre-backs Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna coped admirably with several balls into the box, Rice was busy and robust in midfield and Haller led the offensive line superbly.

West Ham's weaknesses

Left-back Arthur Masuaku got forward well but was not always in the right position defensively and was partly at fault for Watford's goal. He might struggle even more against opponents blessed with more natural width than the Hornets.

West Ham's goalscorer bets

Haller will be among the shorter-priced players whenever West Ham play and deservedly so. He is a powerhouse striker with good technique and an eye for goal, who should be ideally suited the Premier League. Substitute Michail Antonio caught the eye and is always a threat due to his pace and heading ability.

View from West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini

"Both sets of fans saw a good game, in an open way. We tried to continue to be an attacking team with every chance that we had.

"Also Watford, they had two or three clear chances in the first half to score again, so did we. For the fans it was a very good game."

West Ham's prospects

Questions were being asked after their 5-0 loss at home to Manchester City and a fortunate 1-1 draw at Brighton but West Ham answered their critics with a professional performance.

They finished tenth last season and are entitled to aim a little higher after replacing sulky striker Marko Arnautovic with the powerful Haller.

The defence, which is the same as last season, could be the weakest link. Watford had plenty of chances - most notably Will Hughes, who missed a sitter - and better teams will cause West Ham serious problems.

How did Watford play?

The pressure is mounting on Javi Gracia, who finished the weekend at the top of the next-manager-to-go betting.

He made mistakes including offering too much leeway for his full backs (the right-sided Kiko Femenia and left-sided Jose Holebas) to push forward.

Neither of his first-choice wingers, Ismaila Sarr or Roberto Pereyra, were fit enough to start and captain Troy Deeney faces two months out after a knee operation.

But Gracia's tactics left centre-backs Craig Dawson and Craig Cathcart horribly exposed, making it far too easy for West Ham to create match-winning chances.

Watford v West Ham teams

Watford 4-1-2-1-2: Foster; Kiko, Dawson, Cathcart, Holebas; Capoue; Hughes (Sarr 74), Doucoure; Cleverley (Quina 86); Gray, Deulofeu (Welbeck 74).

West Ham 4-2-3-1: Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku; Rice, Noble; Yarmolenko (Antonio 55), Lanzini (Sanchez 88), Anderson (Fornals 78); Haller.

Next three Premier League fixtures

Watford: Newcastle (a), Arsenal (h), Man City (a).

West Ham: Norwich (h), Aston Villa (a), Man Utd (h).

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