Lucas Paqueta blasted for ‘awful’ failure vs Ipswich ace in 4-1 West Ham United win
Lucas Paqueta was slammed for his “awful” defending for West Ham as Ipswich Town scored an early equaliser at the London Stadium by Tony Gale.
The former Hammers defender reacted live on the world feed match commentary of the 4-1 win on 5 October, after the Brazilian was outmuscled inside his own area by Liam Delap who fired his side level soon after Michail Antonio’s first-minute opener.
The striker picked up a loose ball at a corner while facing away from goal but shrugged off Paqueta to turn inside and shoot, with Alphonse Areola’s poor attempted save only deflecting the ball into his net.
Gale said (3.06pm): “Well it’s a great strike from Delap but I think Areola has got to save that one. Lucas Paqueta as well, defended awfully, tried to get the wrong side.
“And he’s beaten him on his near post. Keepers shouldn’t be beaten on that near post, got his hand to it but could only deflect it high up into the net. Great goal for Delap though.”
He then added: “You have to question the defending of Paqueta as well up there. He always has the better of him and uses his strength to get away.
“But once he did the defence didn’t follow out on the block and of course Areola, you think, could have done better with the shot.”
Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio star for West Ham
Defensive work in his own box may not exactly be Paqueta’s forte but he could have done a lot better against Delap early.
The Brazilian international had far from his best game for the club but his attacking teammates were outstanding as Julen Lopetegui got a much-needed home win and some positive signs for the new era at the London Stadium.
Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus all starred as the Irons overcame a sloppy defensive performance to record the sort of result that was supposed to be the norm after a transfer window full of exciting new signings.
The new manager will need to follow up with plenty more positive results after a game which his side was supposed to win on paper.
But after the early-season struggles brought his job into question already it was a very positive afternoon on the whole.
Having made the perfect start when Antonio capitalised on some poor play from ex-Irons loanee Kalvin Phillips the players could have let nerves creep in once Paqueta and Areola contrived to throw the advantage away.
But the attacking stars made the difference to send West Ham into the international break on a high.
In other West Ham news, one Irons man was given some of the “worst” news a player can get this week.
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