West Ham United manager David Moyes maintained that he hoped Frank Lampard keeps his job and that his former club Everton stay up after his side’s 2-0 victory at London Stadium. The Scot was in charge of Everton for over 11 years between 2002-13 but with both managers without a Premier League victory since mid-October, the stakes were high going into this fixture.
Moyes said: “When you’re in the job, I think you understand that football managers are fair game but I think if you’re really being honest, for a man to come in here and ask another man about losing his job in the world we live in at the moment isn’t the right thing to do. I’m guessing you’ve all got editors or people who are telling you to ask that question and because of the position we’re in, we have to take that and get on with it.
“I would hate to think that Everton would go down because they mean so much to me over the years but obviously everything I’m doing at the moment is to get West Ham in the best position and hopefully try and win a trophy as well.”
RATINGS: Everton player ratings as Tarkowski awful and eight men poor vs West Ham
RECAP: How the action unfolded as Everton lost to West Ham
He added: “I think the money that’s involved in being a Premier League club is such a big thing, it really is, for all the clubs. I’m still not sure whether that makes it an excuse to ask the question but I understand that the people who work have to ask those questions because that’s what you’re employed to do as well.
“I really hope that Everton stick with Frank, I think he’s a top bloke from my conversations and the times I’ve met him and I hope that Everton find a way out of the situation but I’ve got to first of all look at my position because me winning one game doesn’t mean everything is fine but all I’ll say is that I’ve had brilliant support from the board and they’ve really helped when they can.”
Moyes, who before this term steered West Ham United to the first back-to-back top seven finishes in the club’s history, reiterated his gratitude for the support of his board throughout a difficult period. He said: “I’m really pleased with the result. Bits of the performance were really good as well so I was really happy with that.
“Look, the only difference we’ve probably seen from all the other performances was that we scored two goals today. We’ve probably played as well in, I don’t know, another eight or 10 games but weren’t able to get the goals but today we did and it made an incredible difference.
“I think it’s a relief to the club. Everyone connected to the club, it’s a big relief to us all.
“The players earned it. They recognised the situation we’re in and we’re working together to get away from where we are.”
The 59-year-old added: “I have to say, probably the biggest strength I’ve had is I’ve had a board behind me who are really supportive and have backed me. I still believe that it was something that the board didn’t want to do, they didn’t want to make changes.
“I also believed that I would win today, I did. I thought we had to turn the tide, it can’t keep going the way it’s been.
“I think Danny Ings’ introduction yesterday gave us a little feeling that things could change and for that, it worked out well. Also, my experience has got me to the stage where I’m saying ‘ok, these things can happen’ and I’m quite cool about the thing but obviously inside I’m desperately wanting to win because I was so disappointed that I’ve not been able to win for seven games.”
READ NEXT:
Bill Kenwright and Farhad Moshiri break silence on Frank Lampard after Everton lose again
What Everton protest banner said hammers home grim reality for Frank Lampard and Farhad Moshiri
Farhad Moshiri and Everton board near brutal u-turn as new low reached at West Ham
Farhad Moshiri and Everton board questioned as fan frustrations relayed
- Everton slip down 'Money League' rankings as £12m drop revealed
