‘Huge mistake’: Nigel Reo-Coker now thinks David Moyes made a bad call with £22m West Ham player

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Former West Ham United player Nigel Reo-Coker now thinks David Moyes made a mistake not starting Jarrod Bowen against Olympiacos.

Reo-Coker was recalling West Ham’s loss in the Europa League last week and thought Moyes was wrong to not play a stronger side.

West Ham do still sit top of their group, but the pundit thought Moyes has now invited unnecessary pressure on himself.

Reo-Coker thought Moyes should have started the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen to ensure West Ham got a result.

Speaking on the BBC’s Football Daily, he said: “Losing to Olympiacos in the Europa League is a big blow.

“The problem is sometimes when you get this, as much as I want David Moyes to do well, sometimes managers can be their own worst enemy.

“For me I look at that game and it’s always a difficult place to go and get a result.

“You start your top guys, start them, try and get a one or two-goal lead and then you can take them off.

“I think not starting Paqueta, Antonio and Bowen in that game was a huge mistake and then you lose that game and it just puts the magnifying glass on you as a manager and the decision you made.

“You lose to Everton at home and then you’ve put yourself in a much more difficult position because if they lose again against Arsenal, then it’s going to be the same noise that we heard last season.”

Reo-Coker suggests that Moyes now relies on Bowen at West Ham

Of course, West Ham do have an opportunity to end a bad run of results tonight.

Arsenal arrive in East London to face The Hammers in the EFL Cup.

And Mikel Arteta has admitted that Declan Rice is likely to face his old side for the first time.

It’ll certainly be interesting to see how Moyes sets up his side to deal with the threat of Rice, and all of Arsenal’s other talents.

The EFL Cup is by no means a priority for West Ham this season, but Moyes will want to see an improved performance.

And Nigel Reo Coker may even suggest that Moyes should think about starting Bowen for West Ham in order to end a run of five games without a win.

The £22m winger is now vital for the club, and his minutes will be a difficult balancing act.