West Ham United were beaten 4-0 in a clash with one of their fellow Premier League relegation rivals.
David Moyes
It was a hugely disappointing night for the Hammers, with a desperately poor first-half display seeing Moyes’ men going into the break 2-0 down thanks to a brace from Rooney, which included a header immediately after Hart had initially saved his former international teammate’s penalty.
It was a much better display for much of the second-half, and they had the chance to make the score 2-1 when Manuel Lanzini stepped up to take a penalty. Unfortunately for the Irons, the spot-kick was saved by Jordan Pickford, and Everton took full advantage.
The next goal in the game saw Rooney complete his hat-trick as Hart’s clearance found the Toffees man inside his own half, and he struck a gorgeous effort first time to agonisingly lob the West Ham defenders. And after the game – after Ashley Williams had rounded off the scoring at Goodison Park – Moyes lamented Hart’s contribution in the goal.
“Whether it was a slide or kick, it had to go somewhere that it wasn’t going to put us in any danger, but it did put us in danger.”
In fairness to Hart, while it was not the best clearance by any means, Moyes is perhaps being a little harsh to suggest that the goalkeeper had put the side in danger as it was an incredible strike that few players on the pitch would have been capable of replicating had it fallen to them.
Hart, of course, should take some of the blame, but Moyes’ public comments will surely do nothing for the goalkeeper’s confidence – he will already be under no illusions that he should have done better – and are perhaps somewhat unfair as it needed a moment of sheer magic to take full advantage of the slightest of openings.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
