DAVID MOYES has given his West Ham players two days off despite their five goal thumping at Fulham to try and battle a sickness bug in the camp.
The Hammers boss revealed ahead of kick-off at Craven Cottage that there had been illness going around the squad.
A number of players and staff were suffering.
Edson Alvarez missed the game altogether, Pablo Fornals was hooked at half-time while Emerson Palmieri has also been unwell.
Moyes himself has also had symptoms.
The Scot, 60, insisted it was not the only reason for their humbling defeat to Marco Silva’s side, but also pointed to a tighter turnaround having played a day later than their hosts.
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Fulham beat Nottingham Forest 5-0 on Wednesday before West Ham beat Tottenham on Thursday night.
With the sickness having spread quickly through the camp Moyes has ordered his players to stay at home for two days to try and limit the damage.
The decision will not sit well with supporters after such a heavy loss, but it is the only window for players to have a break before a run of four games in nine days.
West Ham players will not be given a day off next week due to their schedule.
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The defeat at Fulham increased the pressure on Moyes, with fans still split over whether the ex-Everton boss is the right man to take the club forward.
Moyes, who delivered the club’s first European trophy for 58 years six months ago, is out of contract at the end of the season but still has the full backing of the Hammers hierarchy.
On the humbling defeat to Fulham, Moyes said: “I’m embarrassed for the result and the performance, and we’re sorry to the supporters for it.
“There were a wee bit of mitigating circumstances – I think the midweek took a huge amount out of us.
“Playing Thursday and Sunday in two Premier League games, compared to [Fulham playing on] Wednesday and Sunday makes a big, big difference.
“We’ve had quite a bit of illness in the camp over the last few days and that’s not helped.”
The Hammers host Freiburg in the Europa League on Thursday before playing Wolves, Liverpool and Manchester United in just one week.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
