Mark Noble, once again the dependable beating heart of the Hammers, illustrated why the England manager Roy Hodgson could regret overlooking the tenacious midfielder’s European Championship potential.
With a brace scored here — that’s four in two games, the first at the end of a surging run to connect with Cheikhou Kouyate’s pass, the second a superb volley — his was a telling contribution which encapsulated all that was so impressive about Slaven Bilic’s men as the visitors confirmed their intent of claiming a Europa League place, at the very least. In doing so, they attained their highest ever points haul in the Premier League. From the West Ham followers, there was a chorused reminder to the England manager of their captain’s attributes as the Hammers, undefeated in 10 league matches, hurdled Manchester United into fifth.
“If we are going to talk about Mark we will have to talk for a long time,” reflected Bilic. “Not only about today but the way he trains, plays and behaves — he is basically unbelievable. With the ball he is exceptional. I knew he was a good player who would give you everything on the pitch and run like crazy, but he has surprised me in terms of his skills. He is magnificent.”
Like any proud home-movers preparing to upsize, Bilic’s men are determined to decorate their new stadium with European football. And that looks increasingly likely. The Hammers camp is adamant that officials’ errors in recent weeks have cost them dear so far as a Champions League berth is concerned, but the Europa League is within their grasp, although Bilic warned that proposition “was not safe yet”.
Here, the visitors were relentless in their pursuit of success; one in which Dimitri Payet played a key role. The France international has scored, or provided an assist for, a third of West Ham’s 60 league goals, and here he laid on Kouyate’s opener. Albion, having stymied Spurs’ title ambitions on Monday, confirmed they were far from vacation-happy in the early minutes.
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Jonathan Leko, 17, who became the first player born in 1999 to start a Premier League game, swiftly showed his desire to be more than a history-maker. First, he cut into the area with scintillating footwork on the right and found Craig Gardner, whose first effort was blocked on the line by Michail Antonio, and the follow-up by goalkeeper Adrian. It was not a mere flash of teenage impudence as Leko fashioned another opportunity for the midfielder, who nodded wide.
“Fantastic. We’ve got a lot of talent in the academy and Jonathan has got raw talent and raw pace and raw talent,” head coach Tony Pulis said, finding a positive to emerge from his side’s seventh match without a win. “He reminds me a bit of [Yannick] Bolasie at Palace. Under-21 football isn’t enough. We have to get these kids out. He’s got unbelievable talent.”
Pulis believed the result did not reflect the balance of play. “We went 2-0 down when they had three shots. They had four shots, three goals. We had five or six opportunities and we’ve not scored,” said the West Brom manager.
The Hammers, who had eased their way into the contest, suddenly cut loose and made Albion pay for their earlier failures in front of goal.
Payet’s cross allowed Kouyate, who had been left unmarked, to head back across goal for the opener. It was Payet’s 10th assist of the season — only three West Ham players have equalled or bettered this feat (Matt Holmes, 10, in 1993-94, Eyal Berkovic, 10m in 1997-98 and 11 in 1998-99 and Paolo di Canio, 13 in 1999-2000).
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Kayoute turned provider in first-half stoppage time when he set up Noble to poke home the second. Pulis introduced Saido Berahino and Sandro just after the hour, but the former drove narrowly wide with Albion’s best chance of the half to equalise. West Ham responded with a splendid move. Payet found Andy Carroll on the left and the striker’s deep cross was volleyed home with some venom by Noble.
Star man: Mark Noble (West Ham)
West Bromwich Albion: Foster 6, Dawson 5, McAuley 6, Olsson 5, Evans 5, Yacob 6 (Sandro 62min, 5), Fletcher 7, Leko 7, Gardner 6 (Sessegnon 78min, 5), McClean 5 (Berahino 61min, 5), Rondon 6
West Ham United: Adrian 7, Antonio 6, Reid 6, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 7, Noble 8, Kouyate 7, Lanzini 6 (Oxford 87min, 5), Sakho 5 (Emenike 62min, 5), Payet 7 (Moses 81min, 5), Carroll 6