New signing Dimitri Payet said there was more to come after an impressive debut
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet said he was delighted with a brace on his Hammers debut.
The Frenchman was in sparking form by the seaside as he capped an impressive debut off with two excellent goals against Southend United.
Speaking after the match, the 28-year-old said: “I’m very happy to score two goals on my debut.
“It’s important for me because it’s my first game in England and I want to make a good first impression.” Payet’s brace helped the Irons to a deserved 3-2 win over League One outfit Southend United, although the Claret and Blues were made to work hard as they fell behind in the early exchanges.
The creative midfielder’s first goal came after superb work by youngster Martin Samuelsen, who beat two men before being fouled on the edge of the box, up-stepped the man of the moment to dispatch the free-kick inside the left-hand post.
His second goal of the game came shortly after from a similar distance, he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box and guided it past Dan Bentley. The travelling Hammers supporters gleefully sang ‘Dimitri Payet, he scores when he wants!’
He continued by saying: “My first goal was a free-kick. Martin did very well. I got an opportunity, I knew where I was going to put it and it worked for me.
“For the second goal, the ball came to me, I had a little bit of time and space, so I thought ‘Why not?’”
On a positive day all round for the Hammers, which saw a number of impressive performances, Payet said he hoped this was just the start of a prosperous relationship with his fellow attackers.
“I enjoyed playing with Diafra and all my new teammates. We are not as sharp as we can be, but we will improve. I think we can be very good.
“I don’t think I’m far away from being fully fit but it depends on how many games I play. I want to play as much as possible.
“Hopefully today was just the first two goals of many for West Ham.”
The Frenchman was in sparking form by the seaside as he capped an impressive debut off with two excellent goals against Southend United.
Speaking after the match, the 28-year-old said: “I’m very happy to score two goals on my debut.
“It’s important for me because it’s my first game in England and I want to make a good first impression.” Payet’s brace helped the Irons to a deserved 3-2 win over League One outfit Southend United, although the Claret and Blues were made to work hard as they fell behind in the early exchanges.
The creative midfielder’s first goal came after superb work by youngster Martin Samuelsen, who beat two men before being fouled on the edge of the box, up-stepped the man of the moment to dispatch the free-kick inside the left-hand post.
His second goal of the game came shortly after from a similar distance, he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box and guided it past Dan Bentley. The travelling Hammers supporters gleefully sang ‘Dimitri Payet, he scores when he wants!’
He continued by saying: “My first goal was a free-kick. Martin did very well. I got an opportunity, I knew where I was going to put it and it worked for me.
“For the second goal, the ball came to me, I had a little bit of time and space, so I thought ‘Why not?’”
On a positive day all round for the Hammers, which saw a number of impressive performances, Payet said he hoped this was just the start of a prosperous relationship with his fellow attackers.
“I enjoyed playing with Diafra and all my new teammates. We are not as sharp as we can be, but we will improve. I think we can be very good.
“I don’t think I’m far away from being fully fit but it depends on how many games I play. I want to play as much as possible.
“Hopefully today was just the first two goals of many for West Ham.”