Jonty Banks

Thu 13 April 2023 19:47, UK

West Ham United picked up a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Gent in the first-leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg.

Danny Ings’ predatory finish just before the half-time whistle gave David Moyes’ side the lead, before Hugo Cuypers cut through the Hammers’ defence to net a wonderfully-worked equaliser.

Despite promising late chances for both sides, the two teams will go back to the London Stadium with all to play for next Thursday (20 April).

Here West Ham Zone rated the players out of ten for their performances in the Europa Conference League clash.

Alphonse Aréola – 6

Areola took up his customary spot in between the sticks for West Ham in Europe and looked as comfortable as ever in this role. Stopped a few comfortable shots in the first-half, but was never really challenged to any degree. Couldn’t do anything about Gent’s goal, with the fierce strike travelling past the Frenchman before he could even move.

Vladimir Coufal – 7

Started as a right-wing back and looked to get forward into the final third whenever he could in the early stages, with some piercing and dangerous runs. The Czech international did often lack the final precise pass but was the architect of West Ham’s opener with his quickly-taken throw-in, which resulted in Ings’ goal.

Ben Johnson – 7

Started in a slightly unfamiliar role on the right side of the West Ham United three centre-backs and struggled in his communication with Coufal and Ogbonna either side of him. Despite this, the Englishman popped up with crucial intervention after crucial intervention as Gent grew into the game and caused West Ham a number of late problems.

Nayef Aguerd – 5

Made a great defensive header early on to deny Gent a free header in the six-yard box after just five minutes, before almost walking the ball into the Gent net in bizarre fashion, before VAR deemed he had touched the ball with his hand. Was partly at fault for Gent’s equaliser, with Cuypers cutting through Ogbonna and the 27-year-old far too easily for Moyes liking.

Angelo Ogbonna – 4

Survived a scare when a lapse in concentration and communication with Johnson almost left Gent through on goal, but the danger was mopped up by his partner in crime. The centre-back crumbled into a heap on the ground when he fell awkwardly when challenging for a header but was fine to continue. However, the yellow card he picked up in the first-half of the clash has ruled him out of the second leg.

Emerson – 4

Emerson was the quieter of the two wing-backs in attack but still carried out his defensive duties diligently. The Italian showed brief glimpses of his skill and quality, but these would have been too few and far between for Moyes’ liking.

Declan Rice – 7

Delivered a devilish cross which almost met Bowen’s head during the cagey start to the game, but struggled to assert his usual impact on the game in possession of the ball. Starting in a midfield two with Downes, the England International led the team well and kept things ticking over without shining to his usual degree.

Flynn Downes – 6

The 24-year-old was harshly awarded a yellow card after 20 minutes and had to walk a tightrope afterwards, but did well not to involve himself in anything silly. For all of his effort, Downes couldn’t quite pull the strings in midfield as he would have wanted, with West Ham’s two-man midfield often looking a touch overrun. Moyes rightly subbed off the midfielder in the second half for Paqueta due to his prior caution, but the 24-year-old will be relatively pleased with his efforts.

Jarrod Bowen – 8

The Englishman was West Ham’s main attacking outlet down the right wing, linking up nicely with wing-back Coufal and carving open a number of opportunities. Was agonisingly close to giving the Hammers a late winner when slid through by Paqueta, and should probably have done better with his chance. The former Hull City man deserved a goal for his effort, but just couldn’t quite pull off the final pass.

Manuel Lanzini – 3

Lanzini’s lack of playing time over the past few weeks showed, with the 30-year-old struggling to get on the ball to any degree and cause Gent any major issues. Lacked any kind of substance on the ball and didn’t seem to help Emerson defensively too much either. Was quite rightly subbed off by Moyes on the hour mark after a very poor performance.

Danny Ings – 6

As has become custom since his January transfer to West Ham United, Ings was often isolated as a single striker, but through no lack of effort. The Englishman simply couldn’t get his feet on the ball in the early stages, but popped up with the crucial opening goal on the stroke of half-time. The Englishman proved his predatory instincts with this well-taken goal but did little else before being subbed for Antonio on the hour mark.

Substitutes

Said Benrahma (on for Lanzini, 61′) – 6

Michail Antonio (On for Ings, 60′) – 7 – Used his physicality well in attack and linked up with West Ham’s midfield far more successfully than Ings.

Lucas Paqueta (On for Downes, 74′) – 7 – Was hacked down in the final minute of the game after being played in behind the Gent defence, but it was not deemed a penalty after a VAR check..

Aaron Cresswell (On for Emerson, 87′) – N/A