Andy Hinchcliffe heaps praise on ‘Magnificent’ Declan Rice for what he did in West Ham United clash v Newcastle United
Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe was in awe of Declan Rice after his cross set up Lucas Paqueta’s goal for West Ham against Newcastle.
The Hammers fell behind in the opening minutes before Paqueta stabbed home an equaliser just after the half-hour mark following a brilliant corner from captain Rice.
And while commentating on the game for Sky Sports (4 February, 18:02), Hinchcliffe was quick to point out the England international’s role in the equaliser despite it being the Brazilian record-signing who scored.
“It all stems from a magnificent delivery from Declan Rice,” he said.
“He whips this ball in and it just clears Joelinton at the near post, then it’s a bit of defensive disarray from Newcastle.
“We’ve not seen that virtually at all this season, but Paqueta is on his toes at the far post and he’s there to turn it home.
“Actually his movement is very good. He’s on the byline and he steps in-field as that ball bypasses the near post, and he does well. It’s not an easy ball to control but he manages to kill it stone dead.
“That means that he can tuck the ball home, but it all stems from the delivery from Declan Rice. It’s outstanding.”
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West Ham have severely struggled for any sort of momentum this season in the Premier League, but they came into this game with a bit and it showed.
If this game had happened a month ago and we’d fallen behind the way we did, it would only have gone one way and that would be a bad defeat.
But the players reacted to the bad start and showed great fighting spirit and character to come back, against a top side away from home, and get back into the match.
Rice has been accused on occasion of not being up to standard this season with his eyes seemingly on a transfer away at the end of the season, but today he was back to his best and turned in a top performance right when we needed it.
It was a solid performance for the most part and the result was a positive one, so things are beginning to look up and it seems as though Moyes has turned a corner.