West Ham 1 Middlesbrough 1: Dimitri Payet stunner seals Premier League point for Slaven Bilic's Hammers

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Tom Doyle1 October 2016

A Dimitri Payet wonder goal rescued a 1-1 draw for West Ham against Middlesbrough after Aitor Karanka's men threatened to heap the misery on Slaven Bilic at London Stadium.

Cristhian Stuani had given Boro the lead with a header six minutes after half-time, but Payet beat five men before finishing wonderfully six minutes later to seal an important Premier League point for the Hammers.

The Hammers had picked up just three points from their six previous Premier League games, so it was perhaps unsurprising to see Slaven Bilic experiment with a new line-up.

Michail Antonio's fine scoring run earned him a starting role up front in a 4-1-4-1 ahead of Juventus loanee Simone Zaza, while there was no room for Manuel Lanzini as the Argentine had to settle for a place on the bench.

Despite Bilic's best-laid plans, he was forced into an early change as Alvaro Arbeloa came on for Sam Byram after the young full-back injured his hamstring during a diving header in the fifth minute.

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Boro frustrated Antonio in a lone role in the opening exchanges as Aitor Karanka's men controlled possession, but the Hammers grew into the game as Antonio saw a strong header well blocked.

Dimitri Payet was lively on the left as he saw one effort blocked before flashing another wide, while Mark Noble curled a fine shot just wide of Victor Valdes' left-hand post as the half wore on.

Noble then had a golden opportunity to put the hosts ahead six minutes from half-time, but could only find the underside of the crossbar when well placed 20 yards out.

The Hammers had a late scare before the interval as Adrian failed to collect a routine long ball under pressure from Jordan Rhodes, but Winston Reid was on hand to clear the danger in injury time.

The hosts were made to pay after the break as Stuani's header was correctly awarded via the goal-line decision system, with Noble unable to keep the ball out.

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Just when it seemed as though West Ham would fall to another disappointing defeat, Payet scored what could prove to be one of the goals of the season.

The France winger cut in from the left flank and weaved his way past five challenges before finishing low past Valdes to restore parity.

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Bilic brought on Zaza in an attempt to win the game, but the striker summed up his cameo with a wild shot that flew 25 yards over the bar as neither side could find a winner.

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