West Ham deal hammer blow to Luton's survival hopes with 3-1 win

LONDON: A fine second half performance saw West Ham earn a 3-1 win against struggling Luton Town at the London Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday (May 11).

The result gives departing manager David Moyes a result to celebrate in his 100th and final home game as Hammers boss and leaves Luton on the brink of relegation.

The Hatters went into half time 1-0 up thanks to a header from Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga in the sixth minute and defended well throughout the first half.

But a much-improved West Ham equalised in the 54th minute thanks to James Ward-Prowse, while Czech international Tomas Soucek and 19-year old substitute George Earthy also got on the score sheet in the second half.

Only a win was good enough for Luton, who sit in 18th place on 26 points.

The result all but ends the Hatters' hopes of playing Premier League football next season, and the club's relegation could be formalised as soon as Saturday evening, if 17th place Nottingham Forest pick up any points at home to Chelsea at 1730.

Luton's early goal stunned the Hammers, as Alfie Doughty’s cross in from the left was met with a fierce header into the back of the net from Belgium's Lokonga.

Luton did not sit back after taking the lead, continuing to attack and threatening the Hammers' defence on a handful of occasions in the first half in what was an end-to-end affair at times.

Humble Luton have impressed with their approach this season, but West Ham's quality proved too much in the second half and the Hatters struggled to pick themselves up after conceding the equaliser.

The equalising goal came as Ward-Prowse drove low and hard into the net, pouncing on the ball after a Jarrod Bowen shot from the right was saved.

Bowen – who received the Hammer of the