Match-winner Dimitri Payet had many a reason to celebrate on Monday night
There was no holding back when Dimitri Payet’s delicious curler nestled in the top corner of Tim Krul’s goal inside ten minutes of Monday night’s 2-0 success.
The usually understated Frenchman took to his knees to celebrate West Ham United’s opener against Newcastle United, his second Barclays Premier League goal, and the first of a memorable match-winning double.
And well he might. Unlike his maiden league goal, against Leicester City at the Boleyn Ground, this one set the Hammers on the path to a first home victory of the campaign and happily coincided with the birth of his third son.
One to cherish, so says West Ham’s playmaker: “I'd not had the pleasure of really enjoying my first goal, because we were behind and we lost. Here, I took the time to savour the magnificent atmosphere and it was a pleasure for me to score at home.
“I was happy because I knew that we had to start the match well, seeing as we'd made mistakes at home when we'd lost. I was very happy, even more so after the birth of my third boy, so it was a beautiful night.”
The usually understated Frenchman took to his knees to celebrate West Ham United’s opener against Newcastle United, his second Barclays Premier League goal, and the first of a memorable match-winning double.
And well he might. Unlike his maiden league goal, against Leicester City at the Boleyn Ground, this one set the Hammers on the path to a first home victory of the campaign and happily coincided with the birth of his third son.
One to cherish, so says West Ham’s playmaker: “I'd not had the pleasure of really enjoying my first goal, because we were behind and we lost. Here, I took the time to savour the magnificent atmosphere and it was a pleasure for me to score at home.
“I was happy because I knew that we had to start the match well, seeing as we'd made mistakes at home when we'd lost. I was very happy, even more so after the birth of my third boy, so it was a beautiful night.”
I took the time to savour the magnificent atmosphere and it was a pleasure for me to score at home.
His second owed much, if not everything, to Victor Moses’ explosive run and shot, which cannoned off the bar and to the feet of Payet. The Reunion-born midfielder, composed as ever, tucked it away with the minimum of fuss.
Payet, naturally, agreed that the Nigerian’s endeavours deserved more, but he does not expect it to be too long before Moses is celebrating goals of his own.
He continued: “He deserved to finish with a goal because his run was magnificent, but unfortunately for him and fortunately for me, the crossbar got in his way. But I'm sure, with his quality, he will score plenty of goals this season.
“He's a player that I know because I'd already seen him play, particularly at Chelsea and in the Africa Cup of Nations. He has a lot of quality to enable him to run with the ball and he's very quick. We saw that in the second goal. The ball came back to me again, but he did all the hard work.”
Payet, inevitably, is taking plaudits and grabbing headlines. Flattering though it obviously is, the No27 is not taking too much notice and rather wants the team to continue the good work that they have started.
“I don't pay attention, the most important thing is that we progress. We've gone two games without conceding and it's important for us that we're sound defensively.
“The fact that people are speaking about me, it's good, but it's not most important, the most important thing is that we progress and we take as many points as we can.”
The Hammers’ quest for points will be boosted by the return of Andy Carroll, whose cameo appearance from the bench on Monday was a welcome sight for everyone of a Claret and Blue persuasion. And Payet, for one, is thrilled to have the big man back.
“When I first arrived, I saw him training apart from the squad with a physio. I know that it was difficult for him, all that time, training alone, and that he was eager to return.
“We're happy to have him back with us, he's a very important player for West Ham and I think he's going to do us good.”
Payet, naturally, agreed that the Nigerian’s endeavours deserved more, but he does not expect it to be too long before Moses is celebrating goals of his own.
He continued: “He deserved to finish with a goal because his run was magnificent, but unfortunately for him and fortunately for me, the crossbar got in his way. But I'm sure, with his quality, he will score plenty of goals this season.
“He's a player that I know because I'd already seen him play, particularly at Chelsea and in the Africa Cup of Nations. He has a lot of quality to enable him to run with the ball and he's very quick. We saw that in the second goal. The ball came back to me again, but he did all the hard work.”
Payet, inevitably, is taking plaudits and grabbing headlines. Flattering though it obviously is, the No27 is not taking too much notice and rather wants the team to continue the good work that they have started.
“I don't pay attention, the most important thing is that we progress. We've gone two games without conceding and it's important for us that we're sound defensively.
“The fact that people are speaking about me, it's good, but it's not most important, the most important thing is that we progress and we take as many points as we can.”
The Hammers’ quest for points will be boosted by the return of Andy Carroll, whose cameo appearance from the bench on Monday was a welcome sight for everyone of a Claret and Blue persuasion. And Payet, for one, is thrilled to have the big man back.
“When I first arrived, I saw him training apart from the squad with a physio. I know that it was difficult for him, all that time, training alone, and that he was eager to return.
“We're happy to have him back with us, he's a very important player for West Ham and I think he's going to do us good.”