West Ham near survival after vital win over Watford
David Moyes urged West Ham to complete the job after they effectively sealed their Premier League survival with an initial half goal-blitz in Friday's 3-1 make an impression on relegation rivals Watford.
Moyes' side ran riot prior to the break at the London Stadium because of goals from Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice.
Troy Deeney got one back for Watford following the interval, but the visitors couldn't muster an unlikely escape act.
West Ham climbed to 15th place and sit six points clear of the relegation zone with just two games left.
Holding a vastly superior goal difference to third bottom Bournemouth and second bottom Aston Villa, the Hammers ought to be safe from the drop.
After their second successive win, West Ham need yet another indicate guarantee their survival.
If other results make sure they are do it themselves, Moyes is confident his players will be up to the duty against Manchester United and Aston Villa.
"We are in an excellent position. Teams still have that chance and we have to get the job done," Moyes said.
"Even scoring the goals has helped, I needed us to keep our goal difference as effective as it could be.
"We've 37 points with a couple of games to go. If we get 40 points we'll did it off our very own back."
Fourth bottom Watford are just three points above the relegation zone and face a nerve-wracking finish to the growing season.
Nigel Pearson's men, beaten for the very first time in three matches, will face Manchester City and Arsenal within their final two games.
Bournemouth, whose goal difference is merely two worse than Watford's, would exceed the Hornets if indeed they beat Southampton by a three-goal margin on Sunday.
"There's no getting from the actual fact this result is bitterly disappointing. I'd expect better from our players," Pearson said.
"I'll look at it again and players are certain to get honest feedback. They will go home tonight and think 'wow we've let that one drift past us'.
"It wasn't good enough. We know that people have the toughest run-in but we have to cope with it."
- In-form Antonio -
Antonio had scored four times in West Ham's rout of Norwich last weekend and the forward was too hot for Watford to take care of as well.
West Ham took the lead in the sixth minute when Pablo Fornals played in Antonio and he fired past Ben Foster for his seventh goal because the coronavirus hiatus.
Less than five minutes later, Watford's task was made harder when Soucek headed home from Jarrod Bowen's cross.
England midfielder Rice produced a outstanding 30-yard strike to put West Ham three up in the 36th minute.
Watford striker Deeney reduced the deficit in the 49th minute, tapping in after Abdoulaye Doucoure's shot rebounded off a post.
But Deeney was forced off with a personal injury and Watford couldn't fight without their captain.
Hammers substitute Sebastian Haller went close in the closing stages with an acrobatic 25-yard volley that Foster tipped away.
Watford's last chance was squandered by Danny Welbeck, who fired hurriedly over after being taken by surprise when team-mate Andre Gray missed his header.
