The Frenchman scored a superb goal in the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet
West Ham United defender James Collins has told BBC Sport that they cannot afford to rely on Dimitri Payet to rescue them this season.
The Hammers looked destined for a fifth straight defeat in the league on Saturday afternoon as Middlesbrough led 1-0 at the London Stadium.
Payet came to the rescue in the 57th minute, though, as he scored a superb solo goal.
After taking possession of the ball on the left, the Frenchman weaved his way past four Boro players before firing into the bottom corner to level the scores.
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet in action with Middlesbrough’s Marten de Roon
It was another moment of sheer magic from West Ham’s star man to drag his side out of a hole once again, but Collins has insisted they cannot let it become the norm.
“It stops the rot and is a step in the right direction. We needed that point,” he told BBC Sport.
“It was a great goal by Dimitri Payet but we can’t depend on him. We need to be better defensively and better going forward.”
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet scores their first goal
The result was not an ideal one for the Hammers as it failed to move them out of the bottom three of the Premier League table.
They currently sit 18th in the table with just four points from their first seven games.
Slaven Bilic’s side return to action when they travel to 8th placed Crystal Palace following the international break.
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet celebrates scoring their first goal with Mark Noble
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