Watford's slim survival hopes took another blow as first-half strikes from
Steve Lomas and Paulo Wanchope condemned them to their 20th Premiership defeat.
The Hornets hit the self-destruct button in the first half when careless
defending gave West Ham a two-goal lead.
A second-half fightback and Heidar Helguson's third goal since his arrival
from Norway offered a glimmer of hope, but the Hertfordshire club looked
increasingly doomed.
Graham Taylor, before the game, had urged his players to believe in the
miracle of survival.
Recent performances had offered hope, he said, but he stood pitchside in
helpless despair as first-half sloppiness gifted West Ham the initiative.
The former England boss was clearly unhappy. He had kept faith in the 11 who
had lost in gallant fashion at Chelsea last week - but made wholesale changes
after the first-half horror show.
Three substitutes were introduced. Taylor changed the formation, and Watford
looked sharper in the second half - but the task was too great.
For the second week running, the Hornets found themselves chasing the game
after a few minutes.
Last week Alec Chamberlain was picking the ball out of his net in the second
minute. This week his defence held firm for a minute longer before Lomas helped
himself to the opener.
It was a sweeping move, engineered by Wanchope, but Watford offered little in
the way of resistance.
The leggy Costa Rican shrugged off the attentions of Nigel Gibbs on the
half-way line and breezed towards the penalty area before picking out Frank
Lampard.
The England midfielder nursed the ball first time into the path of his
captain, and Lomas swept his shot past Chamberlain.
An instant flurry gave the home fans hope. Peter Kennedy planted a header
against the crossbar in the sixth minute, but the rebound flew to safety.
Nordin Wooter, who had created the chance for Kennedy, hurried a tricky volley
from the edge of the box when a flick from Helguson had given him a glimpse of
goal.
Craig Forrest, back in the Hammers goal in place of Sasa Ilic, had no problems
keeping it out.
The Canadian, fresh from lifting the CONCACAF Gold Cup with his country, was
one of four changes made by Harry Redknapp to the side humbled 4-0 at home to
Everton last week. Joe Cole was another casualty.
West Ham had conceded 12 goals in their previous three games but, against the
leakiest defence in the Premiership, generally received more gifts than they
handed out.
Wanchope wasted a chance after a mix-up between Robert Page and Mark
Williams.
Chamberlain saved. But the respite was short-lived as Wanchope beat Page to a
long ball moments later, brushed the Welshman aside and thundered a volley into
the net to make it 2-0.
Richard Johnson, Neil Cox and Paul Robinson came on for Gibbs, Alex Bonnot and
Williams.
Early signs that the new formation might click were good for the home fans.
Allan Smart fizzed a volley over and then forced Forrest into a save with a
long-range effort.
The glimmer of hope came from the left boot of Helguson who drilled the ball
low past Forrest after Scott Minto's tackle on Wooter had fallen into his path.
Watford pushed for the equaliser, but the Hammers created good chances on the
break. Chamberlain saved from Trevor Sinclair, and Wanchope was inches away from
connecting with a low Minto cross.
Teams
Watford: Chamberlain, Williams (Robinson 46), Page, Palmer, Gibbs (Cox 46), Kennedy, Bonnot (R. Johnson 46), Hyde, Wooter, Helguson, Smart.
Subs Not Used: Day, Smith.
Booked: Helguson, Kennedy, Page.
Goals: Helguson 61.
West Ham: Forrest, Ferdinand, S. Pearce, Stimac, Lomas, Moncur, Lampard, Foe, Minto, Sinclair, Wanchope.
Subs Not Used: Keller, Kitson, Cole, Feuer, Margas.
Booked: Moncur.
Goals: Lomas 3, Wanchope 35.
Att: 18,619
Ref: M Reed (Birmingham).
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