David Moyes must take blame for West Ham defeat, while pressure rises on Everton

Moyes allowed Newcastle comeback to happen

David Moyes was scarcely able to believe what he had seen.

After 53 minutes, West Ham were so comfortable that the away end started to bring out the “oles” as their attractive front four bopped the ball around holding a 3-1 lead.

It was a deserving lead, too. Mohammed Kudus had dazzled, Lucas Paqueta was running the game and Jarrod Bowen was in a ruthless mood.

But when the momentum started to shift, Moyes slipped back to his old ways of sitting on a lead instead of utilising West Ham’s clear advantage in the final third against the makeshift Newcastle defence, who were clearly struggling.

Kalvin Phillips was called for as Paqueta was moved up into a central striking role. As an attacking force, West Ham became redundant.

The blame has to sit at the manager’s door for that. Yes, Newcastle played with a renewed vigour and intensity but they were allowed to by a retreating Hammers outfit who sank without a trace.
Lewis Jones

Super-sub Johnson the hero in Spurs’ comeback win

Heung-Min Son may grab the headlines for his late winner against Luton but it was Brennan Johnson’s performance from the bench which was the real key to Tottenham’s comeback victory.

It had been a disappointing international break for Johnson after Wales suffered heartbreak in failing to reach Euro 2024 and that was compounded when he was left out of the starting line-up against Luton.

But the 22-year-old put all of that behind him to make a huge impact as a half-time substitute to turn around the game after Tottenham had trailed the relegation strugglers.

The Welshman provided the cross that set up the equalising own goal before then cleverly teeing up Son’s 86th-minute winner.

His performance drew praise from Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou in his post-match conference after the Australian had brought him on for Dejan Kulusevski.

“He [Brennan] was good,” Postecgolou said. “We felt that in the first half Deki [Kulusevski] was probably coming inside a little bit too much and we thought that Timo [Werner] was certainly getting some opportunities down the left-hand side.

“If we got Brennan on the right-hand side, he could equally be a threat. I thought both wingers in the second half were outstanding.”

He added: “With Brennan’s pace – and he’s got a really good quality delivery, gets in the box – I thought it was a game that was going to be good for him when he came on.”

The conundrum now for Postecoglou is whether to reward Johnson with a start against West Ham in a crucial London derby on Tuesday, or to keep him on the bench – where he is becoming a real weapon as a super-sub to turn games in Spurs’ favour.
Declan Olley

Chelsea sink to new low

Mauricio Pochettino firstly pointed to his heart, and then his head. The problem was not with his players’ legs, he insisted post-match, it was their lack of hunger that proved punishing.

A scarcity of personality, desire and basic instinct cost his side in a damaging draw with…