Three things we learnt from West Ham’s vital draw with Middlesbrough

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The Payet magic reliance continues

Had Dimitri Payet not produced a magnificent goal by single handedly beating all of the Middlesbrough backline to draw his side back level, the Hammers would have been heading towards their fifth straight defeat in the Premier League. Since then, the only taste of victory was against League 2 Accrington Stanley, when once again it was Payet magic late into injury time which saved the day.

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The Euro 2016 star has become the club’s key player since joining from Marseille last summer, but this season he has seemed at times to be the club’s only hope of salvation from poor positions. Whilst it was effective yet again on Saturday afternoon, it does raise concerns over the long term future should Payet move on.

Top scorer Michail Antonio was trialed up front with Simone Zaza dropped to the bench but to little effect. Should current form continue, it seems inevitable that a summer move is on the cards at the very latest for Payet, and the Hammers have no clear replacement in their current squad.