In the latest instalment of our 2023/24 Season Review, we revisit the Irons' fortunes during a busy December, that involved some memorable wins over high-profile opposition...
The December schedule is always one of the most hectic in the English football calendar, and last season was no different for West Ham United.
The Hammers faced eight matches and eight different opponents throughout the last month of 2023, including six Premier League tests, a final UEFA Europa League Group A clash, and an EFL Cup quarter-final.
But David Moyes’ side continued their impeccable form from November and, despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on 3 December, they went on register a statement victory away at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur four days later.
Moyes labelled the 2-1 turnaround triumph in north London one of the best comebacks he had overseen during his time in football, on what was a landmark night for Jarrod Bowen.
His 52nd-minute equaliser not only levelled proceedings, but saw him score his 50th goal for the Club and net for the seventh consecutive away match at the start of the season, setting a new Premier League record.
James Ward-Prowse’s side-footed effort then secured an extraordinary victory against the early top-flight pacesetters.
However, our six-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as Fulham cantered to a 5-0 win at Craven Cottage next time out.
As they had done on many occasions throughout the early part of the campaign, though, Moyes' men responded emphatically. West Ham welcomed SC Freiburg to east London knowing that a point would see them directly through to the Europa League round of 16, as group winners, and they achieved their goal in confident style.
The Hammers got off to the perfect start when Mohammed Kudus controlled Edson Álvarez’s pass on his chest before coolly slotting home, and the latter then netted his first goal in Claret and Blue before half-time with a smart finish after a driving run forward, to seal a 2-0 scoreline.
Three days later we backed it up with a comfortable 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers back in the Premier League, as a Bowen goal and a Kudus brace sealed victory, before our EFL Cup journey came to an end when we were outclassed by Liverpool at Anfield.
Yet, the end of the calendar year brought about significant success. Next up was Manchester United at London Stadium – two days before Christmas – and we managed to record a 2-0 victory.
Lucas Paquetá’s sublime pass unlocked the United defence and found Bowen, who broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with his eleventh league goal of 2023/24.
And a second quickly followed as Kudus pounced on an error from a visiting player and finished emphatically to keep his team firmly in the hunt for Europe.
In truth, we couldn’t have closed out 2023 much better than we did, producing a stunning team effort away at Arsenal to earn another 2-0 win on 28 December.
The Hammers defended resiliently and refused to let Mikel Arteta’s title-chasers through them, while goals either side of half-time from Tomáš Souček and Dinos Mavropanos - the latter against his former club - sealed a famous victory.
That result left West Ham on 33 points at the midway point in the campaign – our highest figure at that stage of a Premier League season – and completed a December to remember.
So, next we move into 2024, as the second half of the season gets underway...
