David Moyes told to make critical Declan Rice change after West Ham development – pundit
Noel Whelan has urged David Moyes to reconsider Declan Rice’s status as the designated penalty taker for West Ham after his costly miss against Nottingham Forest on Sunday (14 August).
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted Said Benrahma, 27, or Jarrod Bowen, 25, should have been at the front of the queue for the spot-kick.
Rice’s feeble effort was easily saved by Dean Henderson after Scott McKenna denied West Ham a goal with a blatant handball just after the hour mark.
Rice has now missed two of his three career spot-kicks for the Irons – with his last miss coming against West Brom in May 2021.
Benrahma has scored all seven of his career penalties – while Bowen scored four out of six from the spot for former club Hull City.
Whelan insisted Moyes’ side could have claimed all three points if they had scored the penalty.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “I thought it would have been Benrahma to take it because he was at the top of his game.
“He was the one outstanding player. We’ve seen Bowen take them, and Benrahma used to take them for Brentford.
“That penalty could have been a complete game-changer.
“West Ham could have come out with three points. The penalty came when they were on top, and the pendulum could have just swung in their favour.
“When you’ve missed two out of three – Moyes has to say to himself: ‘Am I making the right decision here?’
“I know Rice is wearing the armband, but when it comes to penalties you’ve got to have a natural goalscorer on them.”
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