Which is all very well. But what the Scot really needs at West Ham right now is quality – and unity.

The size of the task facing the new Hammers manager was all too evident after an afternoon of frustration and bitter rancour at Vicarage Road.

That task is a mighty one – on and off the pitch. Rarely can there have been an unhappier club in English football right now than West Ham United. With apologies to the long-suffering fans of Blackpool and Nottingham Forest, who have their own issues with their boards.

When the second goal flew in, after yet another defensive error, the West Ham supporters packed into one end of Vicarage Road were singing: “Sack the board” and “You’re not fit to wear the shirt.” 

Striker Andy Carroll, who had recently criticised fans for leaving before the end of games, particularly got it on the neck after being ignominiously hauled off: “Andy Carroll, we’ll stay ’til the end.” The atmosphere around West Ham right now is poisonous. And that is not Moyes’ fault. Wins would help the situation, but on this showing the former Everton and Manchester United manager has a long haul ahead of him.

This was as far a new manager ‘bounce’ response to a fresh man taking over as you could get.

Hammers fans have been venting their anger at co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold (and fellow director Karren Brady) for some time now since the unhappy move to the London Stadium. And as the team’s performances have steadily declined, that bitter, churning core of fury has boiled over onto open revolt.

The view has been up until now that this West Ham squad is too good to go down. There are too many good players, the corner will be turned. But recent performances – it is now one win in their last 14 away Premier League games – have shown how flawed that analysis looks. 

Yesterday at Watford those worrying signs were even more evident. There really is not enough quality in this squad – and that needs to be addressed in January, when Moyes has been promised money for new players.

This is the unhappy, corrosive situation that Moyes has inherited. Few will envy the Scot’s task in putting things right.

In fairness, his team had their moments in this match. They created chances, and could and should have scored, had it not been for the evergreen Heurelho Gomes in the Watford goal. But in too many areas, with a lively Watford side who attacked with verve and defended stoutly, they were second best.

Carroll, hauled off just after half-time was one of the culprits. He recklessly clobbered Hornets debutante Marvin Zeegelaar in the opening seconds, was then booked, and was a red card waiting to happen all afternoon before Moyes hauled him off. 

Watford have turned down two bids from Everton for manager Marco Silva of £8.5million and £10m and told the Merseyside club he is not for sale. You could see why the Portuguese is so highly rated.

All Moyes’ carefully laid plans in his first game in charge were blown to pieces inside 11 minutes. Zeegelaar crossed, Aaron Cresswell’s header out was poor, Andre Gray saw his shot blocked but Will Hughes swivelled to drive the loose ball past Joe Hart in only his second Premier League start.

Watford could have added to their score as Kiko Femenia’s shot was deflected an inch wide, but then the Hammers hit back.

First Mark Noble put Cheikhou Kouyate clean through, but Gomes dashed out and deflected his shot just wide with a great save.

The Hornets goalkeeper did even better on the stroke of half-time. Pablo Zabaleta crossed, Marko Arnautovic’s header was somehow kept out by Gomes, who then amazingly reacted to stop the Austrian’s point blank effort from the rebound with his other hand.

Arnautovic, having his best game for some time in a Hammers shirt, then set up Kouyate with a lovely ball, but once again the chance was wasted, as the Senegalese blasted wildly over the bar. The punishment was swift and merciless. Watford, with Hughes excellent all game, had broken dangerously throughout. Just after Joe Hart had made a great low save from Adrian Mariappa’s header, the second blow came.

Winston’s Reid’s sloppy header out only reached Hughes, who found the electric Richarlison once again zipping down the left. He went past Reid, and though Hart got a hand to his shot, it still found the far corner.

With their fans’ jeers ringing in their ears, West Ham tried to save the game – and they came close when Manuel Lanzini’s shot was hacked off the line by Christian Kabasele.

But it was not enough. The road ahead is long and hard and if Moyes can turn this round he will earn every penny of his supposed £1m survival bonus. 

Watford (3-4-2-1): Gomes 7; Britos 7, Mariappa 7, Kabasele 7; Femenia 7 (Holebas 86 6), Doucoure 7, Cleverly 7, Zeegelaar 7; Hughes 8 (Pereyra 82 6); Gray 6 (Carrillo 90 6), Richarlison 7. Booked: Britos. Goals: Hughes 11, Richarlison 64. Next Up: Newcastle (a) PL Sat 

West Ham (4-5-1): Hart 7; Zabaleta 6, Reid 6, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 5; Arnautovc 7 (Masuaku 67 6), Kouyate 6, Obiang 6, Noble 6, Lanzini 6; Carroll 5 (Sakho 65 6). Booked: Carroll, Arnautovic, Obiang, Noble. Next Up: Leicester (h) PL Friday.