HAMMERITE?<\/p>\n
Following defeat at Leeds<\/a> 10 days ago, one West Ham-supporting WAG suggested Jarrod Bowen \u201cmust feel like that one human actor in a Muppets film\u201d in a Social Media Disgrace post that got nowhere near the amount of LOLs it deserved. And having seen their team go a goal down on Sunday, moments after their captain had spanked a shot from distance off a post, West Ham fans must have felt it was going to be another regulation day in which Bowen tried to channel his inner Michael Caine in a bid to lend some much-needed gravitas to a typically absurdist and slapstick performance. The feeling can only have been heightened when he was awarded a penalty only to see it overturned by the curtain-twitchers in Stockley Park. But against all odds, West Ham dug deep and managed to eke out a rare and thoroughly deserved victory.<\/p>\n Helped in no small part by one of the most awful showings by a Newcastle side under Eddie Howe, the Hammers won their first game<\/a> under Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo at the fifth time of asking. And having spent his first four matches in charge looking like the physical embodiment of a cold and wet Monday morning commute, it was the Portuguese manager and his staff who ended the game dancing in celebration on the touchline. \u201cI think just the body language, the collective spirit on the pitch, loads of little things that contribute to our performance, wasn\u2019t there,\u201d said Howe afterwards, looking genuinely traumatised by the horror show he had seen unfold at the London Stadium. \u201cThe physicality, the energy was missing. It was hugely frustrating for us, that was a poor performance. We just weren\u2019t ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n In winning a football match and playing well despite some early setbacks, West Ham certainly weren\u2019t themselves either but only time will tell if their victory is a significant sign that a corner has finally been turned. They host Burnley next in a critical six-pointer before an international break that precedes a hellish run of fixtures in which Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester United, Brighton, Aston Villa and Manchester City could burst any bubbles they are forever blowing. \u201cWhen things went against us the reaction from the boys was good and I\u2019m pleased with the way we did it because we were up against the ropes,\u201d said Nuno. \u201cIt\u2019s a little step in the right direction but it\u2019s a very important one, too.\u201d<\/p>\n While Sunday was a grim day for a Newcastle side who have yet to win on the road in five league attempts this season, fans making the long journey home were at least able to console themselves with the knowledge that at least one Premier League<\/a> side from the north-east is doing the region proud by defying all expectations this season. In Monday\u2019s David Moyes-Jordan Pickford derby, Sunderland host an underperforming Everton side and know victory will take them second \u2013 second! \u2013 in the table. Apparently unfussed by the malign influence of the \u2018red cartels\u2019 and PSR rules whose entire raison d\u2019etre is to keep their Geordie neighbours in their place, the newly-promoted and well-oiled Mackem machine will be just five points off the Premier League pace being set by Arsenal if they beat Everton. And with Mikel Arteta\u2019s team of bottlers due to visit the bubbling cauldron that is the Stadium of Light next weekend, the Black Cats could go into the international break positively purring.<\/p>\n LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE<\/p>\n Join Rob Smyth for live coverage of Sunderland 1-0 Everton in the Premier League, kicking off at 8pm (GMT).<\/a><\/p>\n QUOTE OF THE DAY<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had one of the most incredible jobs in football which also had a higher purpose because it was my country. That\u2019s going to be very hard to replicate. Having had 37 years in football I\u2019m enjoying finding other areas where I think I might be able to make a difference\u201d \u2013 it turns out Sir Gareth Southgate isn\u2019t in a rush to return to a club job<\/a> like Middlesbrough after managing England. The 55-year-old is doing the rounds before Thursday\u2019s release of his book, \u2018Dear England: Lessons in Leadership\u2019, which presumably doesn\u2019t have a chapter on Southgate putting 10 men behind the ball for 85 minutes against Croatia and letting prime Luke Modric absolutely run the game.<\/p>\n Leadership, you say? Photograph: Adrian Dennis\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n A few weeks back I listened to a discussion on the wireless about AI. A man informed that the limits of AI include the fact that \u2018AI doesn\u2019t have a sense of humour\u2019. Imagine my surprise when it turned up in Football Daily<\/a>\u201d \u2013 Michael Lloyd.<\/p>\n As a Bournemouth fan I can assure you that the best AI tactics are Andoni Iraola\u2019s\u201d \u2013 Kelvin Baynton.<\/p>\n Given the current farago surrounding Crystal Palace\u2019s impending fixture pile up, would it make more sense to redefine the Fizzy Cup as only being open to teams that have not qualified for Europe that season? This would help with potential fixture clashes, but more importantly it is likely to open up the competition and increase the chances of a \u2018smaller club\u2019 winning it. I doubt any of the bigger clubs would complain about being excluded\u201d \u2013 Rob Burton (and no other sensible readers).<\/p>\n Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com<\/a>. Today\u2019s prizeless letter o\u2019 the day winner is \u2026 Michael Lloyd. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here<\/a>.\u200a<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED PLAYING<\/p>\n