- Team effort was the key to victory over Crystal Palace, says Pedro Obiang
- Hammers No14 delighted for Sofiane Feghouli after Algerian nets first Premier League goal for the Club
- Spaniard keen to kick on with Hammers in sight of league's top half
Pedro Obiang says Saturday’s 3-0 London derby over Crystal Palace was a true team effort.
The Spanish midfielder believes the three point haul was just reward for the whole Club pulling together – from fans to the eleven on the pitch – after a testing week.
Sofiane Feghouli, Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini scored the goals, but it was about more than just the headline makers as the Hammers moved up to 12th in the Premier League table.
“It was a nice moment,” beamed the No14. “We wanted to make the fans happy and it’s a great result.
“We could feel the support for everybody. We’ve answered with three points and everyone is happy.”
As a Hammers player who took time to find his feet in east London, Obiang was particularly happy for Feghouli, who notched his first league goal in Claret and Blue to get his team rolling.
He continued: “For everybody it’s difficult when you arrive as a new player in a new country, with new things. In that situation you need to stay calm and Sofiane knows we need him.
“Now he has scored maybe [it will all change for him]. Sam Byram has come in too, and whenever he has time to play he does really well. This is what a squad is all about.”
Obiang also felt a change in tactics at the break paid off, as the Hammers were able to convert a 0-0 interval scoreline into their emphatic victory.
He added: “The manager and players know that sometimes you have to change something. In the situation on Saturday, we needed to change how we attacked because in the first half we gave a lot of space to them and they played. In the second half it was totally different.
“We needed to press, and we have the players to play football. On Saturday we had Lanzini, Feghouli, Antonio all playing really well and we need to continue.”