- Bilic impressed with determination, character and team spirit of his Hammers team
- Sofiane Feghouli, Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini on target in 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace
- Manager says win was the perfect end to a testing week
Slaven Bilic hailed a true team performance from his team after they put Crystal Palace to the sword at London Stadium on Saturday.
Sofiane Feghouli, Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini were on target as the Hammers swept their London rivals aside with a clinical second half display.
Bilic was thrilled with how his team responded to a testing week in the best style possible, with three points, three goals, and a first win of 2017.
“It was a very difficult game for us, a very difficult week for us as well, but the team showed everything we asked them for – determination, team spirit, character,” the manager explained.
“The crowd was brilliant from kick-off, all the way through. We made one change at half-time and in the second half we were magnificent.
“We gave everything and scored three very good goals. We were compact, we were solid, and I congratulate the boys – they did an amazing job.
“The fans were the same and were magnificent from the first whistle to the end.”
We gave everything and scored three very good goals. We were compact, we were solid, and I congratulate the boys – they did an amazing job
Slaven Bilic
The victory was the Hammers’ first by more than a single goal at their new home, and the boss was glad to not have to feel nervous in stoppage time!
He added: “You like to be relaxed [at the end], so it is nice to win by a few goals! After we scored the third one, it was basically game over.
“It was a perfect day for us. A clean sheet is also very important, three goals scored at home, all by offensive players, which is also very important for them.
“Everybody is happy individually, they all know we played really well, and will gain confidence from this. It’s a great day.”
The highlight, perhaps, was Carroll’s exquisite scissor-kick which doubled the Hammers’ advantage with eleven minutes to play and Bilic was full of praise for the No9.
The boss said: “He is a great character, he is a leader and everything. That goal was the end of a really good move from us – and to score in that manner, he is the one who deserves it.”