Allardyce: ‘It’s a gamble that paid off’ – But says new signing must step up

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West Ham manager on his new strike force.

Diafra Sakho scored his fourth goal in as many starts for West Ham, helping lift the side to seventh in the Premier League table.

Manager Sam Allardyce is delighted with his new signing, but suggests fellow new boy Enner Valencia must step up.

The Ecuadorian has not scored since his superb debut strike against Hull City last month.

Allardyce told West Ham’s website: “Sakho did score 20 goals in the French Second Division so it is a gamble that is paying off at the moment!

“I’m glad to say he feels like he is going to score every time he goes out on the pitch at the minute.

“What we want is Enner to chip in with a couple as well, which would make things even better.

“They make life extremely difficult for defenders. They never give them a minute and that’s what I like about them most, aside from their quality.”

Sakho has a goals minutes per goal ratio up there with the league’s best, behind only superstars Diego Costa and Manchester City. Allardyce is certainly right to say the gamble is paying off for now.

As for Valencia, he has struggled to land his shots on target so far, ranking fourth out of West Ham’s five forwards, and this is the area in which he needs to improve if he is to step up as Allardyce suggests.