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One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Neither do two goals. Or a single tackle - no matter how perfectly executed it was or how vital it may have been.

We saw two of those three events on Saturday – and most left the London Stadium in a happier frame of mind as a result - but knowing full well the ‘summer' was still a long way off! All the same beating anyone at home in the Premier League is an occurrence we haven't experienced for 12 long weeks – dating back to the 24th October 2022 in fact, when we secured a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth.

So to undervalue any victory - even over a struggling Everton side – would be ungracious and ungrateful.




Two of the instigators for our upturn in spirits last weekend, Jarrod Bowen and Nayef Aguerd were understandably keen to share their individual delight. “I've not been happy, obviously with my goals and assists output,” admitted Bowen (just two goals and no assists in his previous 19 league games speaks volumes).

“But you know I never hide, I never slump, and I always give 100 per cent to try and score goals for this club. To get two, I am buzzing!”

Meanwhile Aguerd's timely and perfectly executed tackle on Demarai Gray mid-way through the second half, when the Everton man looked poised to drag his team back into the game, was a defining moment! The Moroccan beamed: “We needed this victory to get some smiles in the dressing room. We really wanted a reaction – so I am very happy with these three points.”

David Moyes has repeatedly stated he has been trying to change West Ham's style. Something many fans had been calling for – claiming Moyes' familiar game plan to be solid at the back and attack on the counter was tired, outdated and been found out.

At the same time he's been wrestling with integrating new arrivals from our summer transfer splash – again an upgrading and up-sizing of the squad those same fans had been demanding. There have been some untimely injuries to contend with into the bargain. To say it hasn't been easy is an understatement.

As a result, the clock appeared to have been ticking down for Moyes. Many felt the alarm would eventually go off if we didn't beat the Toffees. In the event Moyes lived to fight another day – while it was Lampard's head that eventually toppled into the basket.

But is it just a stay of execution for our manager? Or is there really some light at the end of the tunnel for him and his team?




Bowen's brace will have done Jarrod the world of good. Aguerd's assured performance along with that of the returning Kurt Zouma – sandwiched either side of the experienced Angelo Ogbonna – made for a solid and formidable spine – always a good base for any team.

Michail Antonio may or may not be with us when the January window closes – although the untimely injury to new boy Danny Ings may have defined Mickey's immediate future. If so there were encouraging glimpses, particularly with his part in creating Bowen's second goal with the kind of pace and power that use to be his trade mark, that Antonio can still play a valuable role in our recovery in the second half of the season.

It's not a crime to be optimistic – even if listening to some of our habitual doom and gloom merchants you might think it is. We've started the second half of the season on a winning note; let's take heart from that at least.

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