Outgoing West Ham manager David Moyes admitted he kept any post-match celebrations to a minimum after completing his home tenure in charge of the Hammers with a 3-1 victory over Luton on Saturday, out of respect for opposing number Rob Edwards’ ‘terrible feeling’ of relegation.
The 61-year-old ended his tenure as United manager at the London Stadium by achieving only his team’s first home league victory in nearly three months, owing to a resurgent second half performance that was simply too strong for the visitors.
Moyes, who guided West Ham to European glory by winning the Europa Conference League last season, saw his team booed off at halftime after a slow first 45 minutes in which they trailed to Sambi Lokonga’s soaring header, his first goal for the club.
Although Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen came close, it was after the break that the hosts really put on a show, with Kudus playing a starring role as they ensured Luton squandered an interval lead for the fifth time this season, with James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek, and George Earthy all scoring in the space of 20 minutes.
When asked about his sentiments after the final whistle, Moyes remarked, “I was very careful because I know how Rob Edwards must be feeling, and I thought he’s a young manager who’s doing an excellent job at Luton.”
“I think everybody has probably appreciated how Luton have worked this year, the threat they’ve had at home. I’ve been relegated before as well and I know it’s a horrible feeling, the effort you’ve put in all year. I thought once they scored the first goal they had something to hang on to, once we made it one each, it looked like we had the best chance of going on to win the game.
“We were disappointed to concede a goal in the first half, but overall I thought we did well. We made a few chances in the first half and didn’t score, but the second half was certainly better. I needed to win after last week, that is for sure (5-0 defeat to Chelsea). We weren’t so good in the first half but we altered it and we needed the goal which took the stuffing out of Luton.
“There was huge emotion there for me, to be a manager of such a great club. When you think you’ve done a good job it’s great to see people applaud you and we have done a pretty good job here.”
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