West Ham United fan unrest a blessing in disguise for David Moyes – Mark Lawrenson

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David Moyes lost his first game in charge of West Ham United on Sunday as they went down 2-0 to Watford.

BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson believes that the unrest among West Ham United’s supporters could work in the favour of new manager David Moyes.

Moyes lost his first match in charge of the Hammers on Sunday as they went down 2-0 to Watford at Vicarage Road in front of some disgruntled travelling fans.

However, Lawrenson feels that the animosity is aimed at West Ham’s owners and players, rather than Moyes and that the Scotsman has the chance to be their knight in shining armour.

“Moyes’ first home game, against Leicester on Friday night, is going to be another big moment for him,” former Liverpool defender Lawrenson wrote for BBC Sport.

“From what I saw and heard at Vicarage Road, the atmosphere at London Stadium is not going to be a positive one. The West Ham supporters are clearly angry and disillusioned with the club’s owners, and some of the players too. Their chants about how they will be playing Millwall in nine months show how bad they think things are right now.

“That might actually work in Moyes’ favour, though, because if he can give them a glimmer of hope then they will really get behind him. And, whatever the supporters think of the owners, I think they will back Moyes in the transfer market when the window opens in January.”

While positive results will earn Moyes time, it might be difficult for him to get the fans on side. The 54-year-old is fighting against his crumbling reputation following doomed spells at Manchester United and Sunderland.

The defeat to Watford was a fifth game without a win for the Hammers and kept them in the Premier League relegation zone ahead of the visit of Leicester City and a trip to Moyes’ former club Everton.