Alan Smith stunned by ‘beautiful’ Nayef Aguerd moment in first half of West Ham United v Crystal Palace
Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith was stunned by a long-range pass from West Ham ace Nayef Aguerd against Crystal Palace.
The centre-back played a “beautiful” ball forward to teammate Jarrod Bowen in the first half of the clash on Sunday (3 December).
The Hammers were ahead at that stage of the clash at the London Stadium after Mohammed Kudus’s goal in the 13th minute.
“Beautiful pass by Aguerd that,” Smith said live on Sky Sports Main Event (2.22pm, 3 December). “To be able to pick out your man with a straight ball like this, the weight on the pass has got to be perfect, which it pretty much was.
“Bowen I think is just trying to chip the goalkeeper. Travelling at full pelt, it’s not always easy to control it, which he doesn’t quite manage. A lovely ball.”
Tough test
The Hammers went into the clash with Crystal Palace sitting ninth in the Premier League table on 20 points, three places and five points ahead of the Eagles.
Moyes knew that it was going to be a very tricky clash at the London Stadium, but he will have taken plenty of confidence from his club’s four-match winning run.
That run has taken place across all competitions, with West Ham having beaten Olympiacos and Backa Topola in Europe and Nottingham Forest and Burnley in the league.
Roy Hodgson meanwhile would have been desperate for a quick start given Palace’s current rut, with his side losing two matches on the bounce before heading to East London.
After their strong start to the season that was followed by a miserable run, the men in claret and blue will be keen to go on a strong run in all competitions between now and Christmas.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are eyeing a Championship “sensation” as a “very serious option” emerges for the player.