Kurt Zouma’s contentious header and Said Benrahma’s late penalty ensured West Ham moved up into the top half in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth on Monday Night Football.
David Moyes’ side entered the game 17th in the table, but it was a position not reflective of performances, with injuries the key disruptor to their heightened pre-season ambition.
The mood music around the London Stadium has been mixed as a result of three wins in their previous 11 games caused in part by missing personnel, missed penalties and VAR misery – but here they were the beneficiaries of a change in law before those spot-kick issues were put to bed.
Jarrod Bowen’s corner was eventually glanced in by Zouma following Tomas Soucek’s header back across goal – but it was a perceived handball from Thilo Kehrer in the build-up which caused dismay among the Bournemouth players.
West Ham were awarded a penalty in second-half stoppage time when substitute Jordan Zemura handled Vladimir Coufal’s cross, allowing Benrahma to seal the win from the spot.