West Ham 3 Luton 1: Teen George Earthy scores with first touch as Moyes wins final home game to all but doom Hatters
IT was a day of farewells at the London Stadium as West Ham waved goodbye to David Moyes and Luton all but bid adieu to the Premier League.
The Hammers came from a goal down after Albert Sambi Lokonga’s opener to give their boss a fine send-off in the sun in what was Moyes’ final home game in charge.
Luton looked to be on their way to properly taking their fight to the final day at the break, but collapsed after James Ward-Prowse got the hosts level.
In truth, back in August no one would have expected Rob Edwards’ boys to still be in with a shot at survival this late in the season. That will not feel like an achievement this week.
Tomas Soucek’s stunner and a first ever Hammers goal for academy graduate George Earthy condemned the Hatters and meant Moyes could at least enjoy his last outing in Stratford.
West Ham announced their decision to part ways with the ex-Everton boss on Monday, earlier than planned, saying they wanted to five fans a chance to bid an emotional farewell here.
Moyes made it clear he did not want much of a fuss in terms of a send-off, simply not his style.
For some time it appeared the fans agreed.
Throughout the entire first half there was not one chant or banner for the Scot, who less than a year ago was holding the Europa Conference League trophy aloft.
The players were even booed off at the break. In truth, the first 45 minutes demonstrated why change is needed.
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The energy and life of that moment in Prague last June has slowly faded out of this squad.
They look disinterested, without direction or drive and have done for some time.
That all changed after the break. West Ham were aggressive and dangerous once more, all the aspects which have been absent as the season has petered out.
Moyes will have wondered where that side of his squad has been for the past few months and whether it could have kept him in a job if they had shown it more often.
The tributes then started to flow.
Luton arrived in East London knowing their fight to stay up could be over by the end of the day.
With Nottingham Forest having a huge advantage in terms of goal difference, the Hatters’ hopes looked slim at best. Though they were facing a side who have been bronzing themselves on the beach for a good few weeks.
Luton had everything to play for, the Hammers very little.
It showed in the opener too. Vladimir Coufal blocked a low cross but showed no urgency in going after the loose ball, which fell to Alfie Doughty.
Given the time and space to pick his mark, the left-back lifted a ball towards Lokonga who nodded home.
The Hammers drifted through the entire first half, offering little aside from Jarrod Bowen flashing an effort just wide of the near post from Lucas Paqueta’s cross.
Moyes clearly fancied delivering one final half-time rollicking in the London Stadium dressing room, however.
They emerged from the break earlier than their visitors and looked far sharper – soon finding the equaliser.
Bowen raced down the right and saw his low shot parried and then hooked clear, though the ball did not make it out of the Luton box.
Ward-Prowse rushed onto it and lashed a fine finish into the bottom left to finally spark an atmosphere in the home end.
Having spent the first half leaning against his goal post, Thomas Kaminski was now rushed off his feet.
In the space of two minutes the Belgian keeper had to hold a header from Bowen, save from Antonio’s drive before tipping the striker’s header away.
The final stop fell to the feet of Bowen, who hit the side netting before Emerson lifted a chance over the bar from six yards.
The goal appeared to have shattered Luton’s belief
Soucek then finally stood up to deliver a peach of a leaving present to his boss.
As the pressure on the Luton goal built, Lokonga headed clear a Ward-Prowse cross to the feet of the towering Czech who cracked home a very out-of-character volley on his weaker left foot.
It was fitting that Soucek notched in Moyes’ final game, one of his finer signings and when at his best a perfect example of what the Scot loves in a player.
Edwards, knowing that was likely that, dipped his head into his hands as he walked back to his seat.
Fans who have been so bitter and fed up all season then finally started to pay tribute to their departing manager, dusting off their “We’ve got super David Moyes” chant.
Things should have got even better on 70 minutes when Bowen put the ball on a plate for Mohammed Kudus, who blasted a golden chance wide.
While Kudus couldn’t deliver one last special moment, youngster Earthy did – with his first touch.
The 19-year-old had been taken to hospital after a nasty head injury just minutes into his debut against Fulham last month, but more than made up for it here.
Coufal drove through the Luton midfield before playing in Kudus. The Ghanaian cut back across goal where Earthy tapped in and sent the London Stadium wild, a sound he will never forget.
Not playing the kids has long been another criticism of Moyes, but here one of them finally had a chance and took it.
Luton’s players looked to have given up hope, but their supporters were going down swinging – one fan dragging more than 20 stewards into a full blown fight as they attempted to eject him.