Payet brilliance saves West Ham

A brilliant solo goal from Dimitri Payet salvaged a point for West Ham as they and Middlesbrough both ended losing runs with a 1-1 draw.

Cristhian Stuani’s header early in the second half put the visitors in front but a wonderful mazy run and finish from Frenchman Payet brought the sides level again.

From there, neither side looked like finding a winner and the ensuing stalemate did little to improve their recent records.

Both stay in the bottom five places, with West Ham remaining in the relegation zone and the two sides are still looking back to August 21 for their last league victories.

The first half had all the hallmarks of a fixture between two sides struggling for form, with each tentative initially and then lacking a cutting edge when they eventually caught sight of goal.

West Ham suffered an early setback when Sam Byram had to go off with an apparent hamstring injury and he was replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.

They took time to settle after that, with Middlesbrough having the only chance of note in the first 20 minutes when Viktor Fischer drove across goal and just wide.

The hosts eventually responded, with Payet having one attempt blocked by Calum Chambers then curling another wide before Michail Antonio’s header was also deflected away.

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