Michail Antonio justifies Moyes faith for West Ham United v Brentford
Michail Antonio has justified David Moyes’ decision to play him from the start in the Premier League clash between West Ham and Brentford as he picked up an assist.
There had been questions about the Jamaican’s place in the team after Jarrod Bowen starred playing a striker in the Hammers’ Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal in midweek.
However, Antonio has returned to the side with aplomb, and the new formation with the two forwards playing up front together has provided him with a new lease of life and allowed his skills to excel.
While it will be Bowen who grabs the headlines, once again scoring and once again playing as a striker, it was Antonio’s play that allowed the Englishman to take his chance and continue the flying form he has shown so far this season.
Antonio was dominant against the Brentford back line, winning a significant portion of his duels and he used his physicality to bring his teammates into play. He won three of four attempted ground duels and 100% of his four aerial duels, justifying the decision to start him alongside Bowen. [Sofascore]
The striker also drew a foul, made two tackles and attempted two crosses in a show of the strength of his all-round game and what he can provide to the team at the London Stadium.
While he failed to have a single shot in the first half, Moyes appears to have found a role that suits him more as the second striker in a two-man pairing rather than expecting him to carry the team’s forward momentum by himself, and that has seen his form improve already.
This duo could prove to be the way forward for Moyes and West Ham after the quick start they have already shown in their new roles, and it will make a difference going forward particularly after pressure started to build on the manager’s position of late.
In other West Ham news, one Hammers chief is now on “thin ice”.