Nathan Ake claims Watford's impressive start is no fluke after Hornets ease past West Ham

Nathan Ake is on a season-long loan with Watford

NATHAN AKE would have expected to swap a title push at champions Chelsea for a relegation battle with Watford.

Instead it is the Blues who trail the Premier League new boys by five points just over a quarter into the new season.

It is an unlikely statistic but Watford plan to continue defying the odds. And who can bet against them?

Not many would have predicted Watford to be sitting halfway in the table at this stage of the season. Even fewer fancied them ending West Ham's away unbeaten run in such comfortable fashion here.

But Dutch left-back Ake, 20, says Watford's impressive start is no fluke.

 

He said: "No I would never have expected that at this stage. But Chelsea will come back, they are a good team. It d

Odion Ighalo scored twice in the victory

He said: "No I would never have expected that at this stage. But Chelsea will come back, they are a good team. It difficult to say if we can finish above them.

"We are doing really well and we can't deny that but we can't look 10 games ahead. We have to look game by game - starting at Leicester on Saturday."

Ake is making the most of his big chance in the top-flight having been sent packing on loan for another season.

Team-mates Heurelho Gomes, Etienne Capoue and Adlene Guedioura, who failed previously to make the grade in England, are also desperate to prove they can cut it at this level.

"Every week I'm learning new things and have the trust from the manager," said Ake.

 

Nathan Ake battles for the ball with Dimitri Payet

"He allows me to make mistakes but also sees that I am improving and getting better every time. I'm definitely getting more comfortable in possession and fitness wise.

"If you play four or five times in a row you get better every time."

This error-strewn performance from West Ham was a world away from wins at Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City.

Andy Carroll, trying a dragback instead of clearing his lines, gifted Watford a 39th minute lead as Odion Ighalo turned Ake's cross home via Aaron Cresswell.

Ighalo pounced on another mistake by James Tomkins moments after the break. The game had long gone against them when James Collins was sent off late on for hacking down Ighalo to sum up their day.

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble says this defeat was a wake-up and said: "We were not going to whole season unbeaten.

"But to lose in that manner was disappointing.

"I'm going to give Watford credit. They played really well and they were a strong team who are hard to break down.

"This is what this league is all about. We have to go on and recover from this."

WATFORD (4-4-2): Gomes 7; Nyom 7, Cathcart 7, Britos 7, Ake 7; Anya 6 (Parades 68, 5), Capoue 7, Watson 7, Abdi 6 (Behrami 76); Ighalo 8, (Guedioura 86), Deeney 7. Booked: Ake, Nyom, Capoue. Goals: Ighalo 39, 48. Next Up: Leicester (a), Sat PL.

WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Adrian 5; Jenkinson 6, Tomkins 5, Collins 5, Cresswell 6; Noble 6 (Jelavic 76), Kouyate 7, Moses 5 (Valencia 46, 6), Payet 6, Lanzini 5 (Zarate 46, 5); Carroll 5. Sent off: Collins. Next Up: Everton (h), Sat PL.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).