West Ham United player ratings v Anderlecht in Conference League showdown
West Ham United travelled to Belgium this evening as they took on Anderlecht in the UEFA Conference League, as David Moyes rang the changes.
The Irons made nine changes with Jarrod Bowen one of only two to keep their spots in a tightly-contested affair between the two favourites for the group.
After a goalless first half with plenty of chances, the Hammers dominated the second period with little joy until Gianluca Scamacca stepped off the bench to fire home the winner.
West Ham Zone rated the players out of 10 below…
Alphonse Areola – 9
The Frenchman stood his ground and commanded his box well, making one very good stop in the opening half after a powerful drive from distance. The save in the second half to keep us ahead was sensational – world-class.
Vladimir Coufal – 6
Solid enough from the wing-back, with his defensive work as good as ever. Moyes will have wanted more going forward from Coufal, but he did his main job well.
Craig Dawson – 8
Animal. The more he works his way into the side again, the more shocking it was even considered selling him over the summer to Wolves, who will be rueing that missed opportunity now. Dominating once again.
Angelo Ogbonna – 7
The Italian stallion is showing his class with each European outing, making it look easy as he kept one of the Premier League’s young guns and loanee, Fabio Silva quiet all game, frustrating him.
Ben Johnson – 6
Johnson did his job quietly and got through the game unscathed with relative ease alongside the experienced duo next to him, not looking out of place whatsoever.
Emerson – 6
Another case of more needed going forward, although he did look more threatening that Coufal on the other side. It still looks as though he will be forced to stay behind Aaron Cresswell in the Premier League.
Flynn Downes – 7
Strong from our relatively new midfield man, with his breaking up play effective and passing forward always on point for the likes of Jarrod Bowen to chase, we need more of that.
Manuel Lanzini – 2
Shocker. When you want one of your senior players to grab a game by the scruff of its neck against a young side, Lanzini was nowhere to be seen. The South American did not dominate and lost possession far too often.
Said Benrahma – 4
On another night, Benrahma could have scored a hat trick and left with a 10 rating, but he wasted chance after chance and made his previous work mean nothing – he needs to find that finishing touch to take him to the next level.
Jarrod Bowen – 7
Often the main dangerman as he always is, but the winger was another who cut a frustrated figure at times with multiple men surrounding him on the ball – that comes with heightened exposure.
Michail Antonio – 5
Antonio may be preparing himself for another spot on the bench this weekend after not really getting much of a sniff in terms of chances this evening. It was a rough defensive line around him, and that halted any real progress.
West Ham United substitutes: Gianluca Scamacca – 7, Declan Rice – 6, Lucas Paqueta – 8