HAMMER BLOW
West Ham thrashed 5-3 by Championship Bournemouth less than 24 hours after skipper Noble criticises transfer policy
WEST HAM were smashed 5-3 by Championship Bournemouth just hours after skipper Mark Noble blasted the club.
The Hammers were comfortably beaten by the relegated Cherries in their final pre-season game before the 2020-21 league campaign begins.
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A brace for Jarrod Bowen and a goal off the bench for Felipe Anderson were not enough for David Moyes' side.
They conceded five times as Bournemouth came out on top in an eight-goal thriller at the London Stadium.
Jason Tindall's Cherries stormed out of the blocks to catch West Ham cold.
They went ahead after just four minutes thanks to Arnaud Danjuma's low strike.
And the away side doubled their lead as former Liverpool man Dominic Solanke made it 2-0 after just 16 minutes.
But West Ham got themselves back into the game courtesy of a blistering double from Bowen.
The Hammers wideman found the net with two close-range goals in three minutes to leave the game level at the break.
But Noble and Co could not continue their momentum into the second half.
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Ex-Everton and Newcastle star Dan Gosling put Bournemouth back in the lead with a stunning 20-yard effort after 58 minutes.
It proved to be the first of three goals in a 12-minute purple patch as skipper Adam Smith's powerful low shot made it 4-2 just four minutes later.
Jaidon Anthony lashed a curling effort into the top corner in the 66th minute before Anderson's near-post header saved some face for West Ham late on.
The result will do nothing to quieten the discontent bubbling under the surface in East London.
Club bosses copped plenty of flak after announcing the £18million sale of talented youth product Grady Diangana.
And it was not just from fans, as captain Noble - who started today's game - panned his employers.
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The 22-year-old has moved to the Premier League newcomers on a five-year deal.
Supporters fumed at the club's decision to sanction the sale to bring in funds despite the player being one of their brightest young prospects.
Noble's tweet was liked by club team-mate and England star Declan Rice who appeared to share the same view.
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But Hammers chiefs defended the move in a statement.
They said the transfer went ahead 'reluctantly but – ultimately – in the best interests of the club and with the aim to strengthen the squad'.
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