Former England international Danny Mills thinks he knows how David Moyes won over the West Ham United dressing room.
West Ham fans were angry when Moyes was appointed as Slaven Bilic’s successor back in November feeling the appointment lacked ambition.
The Hammers faithful were resigned to the fact Bilic had to go to save the club’s season but many wanted a higher profile name.
That did not stop them getting fully behind the Scot from the get go, though, in typical East London fashion.
Moyes took a hardline approach with his players which many felt could go one of two ways.
There was no initial new manager bounce as West Ham lost three and drew one of his first four games in charge.
Wins against Chelsea, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion and draws with Arsenal and Bournemouth since have pushed the Hammers up the league and given them a realistic hope of avoiding the drop.
And former England and Manchester City footballer Danny Mills told Sky Sports thinks he knows when Moyes won over the West Ham changing room.
“(That) big decision with Joe Hart, I think that’s worked for him,” Mills told Premier League Daily.
“Obviously initially he didn’t have a choice when they played Manchester City (because Hart could not face his parent club), brought Adrian back in, who I think is a very, very big character around the dressing room, he also brought Mark Noble back in and that instantly gets the players onside because they are huge characters in that dressing room, very, very well respected.
“And then of course you get a result and then you go on from there.”
Crucially against relegation rivals West Brom, West Ham came from behind to win a match for the first time ever at their new London Stadium home.
That should bode well for the rest of the season with a number of crunch games against other clubs in and around the relegation mix.
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