David Moyes was unable to inspire his West Ham United side to victory as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Watford at Vicarage Road.

A toxic backing track played out throughout the match as the Irons fans chanted against both the board and players.

Will Hughes was the architect of Watford’s success as he scored the first before laying on Richarlison’s all-important second.

The defeat leaves United in the relegation zone ahead of a home clash with Leicester City on Friday night.

Moyes’ tenure got off to the worst possible start as Watford took the lead with just 11 minutes played.

Marvin Zeegelaar’s cross from the left found Hughes at the back post and United failed to clear as the summer signing went up for a header.

The loose ball broke to Andre Gray who controlled superbly but could only miscue an effort towards goal which broke kindly for Hughes.

He swivelled and fired into the left corner with a first time effort from eight yards to open his account for the club.

The goal was notable for the manner in which Zeegalaar, who was making his debut, got forward down the left hand side – a theme which continued throughout the first half.

Watford were in command as West Ham failed to offer anything going forward and were regularly opened up by the hosts.

Richarlison went close to doubling the lead just after the half-hour as he cut in from the left, exchanged passes with Gray and curled a shot across goal.

Joe Hart could only parry a shot he really should have held back out to Kiko Femenia and the Spaniard lashed wide via a deflection from 18 yards.

West Ham finally came to life at the first half’s death when strong hold up play allowed Andy Carroll to knock the ball into mark Noble.

The Hammers skipper instantly released Cheikhou Kouyate who looked set to score as he bore down on goal.

Heurelho Gomes had other ideas, however, and rushed from his line to make a fine stop low to his right.

The Brazilian produced even better moments later as he made a stunning double save to deny Marko Arnautovic twice.

Arnautovic’s initial header took a wicked deflection off Christian Kabasele which forced Gomes to sling out a hand as he moved the other way.

The Hammers number seven followed up the shot, but again found Gomes immovable as he stuck out a leg to make a fine reaction stop from point-blank range.

United picked up where they left off in the first half at the start of the second when Arnautovic breezed past Miguel Britos and pulled back for Kouyate.

Unmarked some 10 yards from goal, the midfielder needed only pick his spot but lent back and lifted a poor effort well over the bar.

Having ridden the storm, Watford started to dominate once more and would have been 2-0 up through Adrian Mariappa’s header but for a fine save from Hart.

They would not have to wait long for their second, though, as Hughes brought the ball forward and released Richarlison on the left wing.

The Brazilian drove past Pablo Zabaleta and drove a low shot across goal and into the bottom corner, despite Hart getting a sizable hand to the strike.

With a two-goal mountain to climb, West Ham looked to be down and out, but went painfully close to grabbing a route back into the game.

A cross from the left found Manuel Lanzini in space at the back post and he lashed a low shit back towards the far post.

His shot was destined for the bottom corner until Kabasele got back to make a fine sliding block on the line.

It was as close as the Hammers came to mounting any sort of comeback as they slumped to a disappointing defeat on Moyes’ maiden outing as boss.