Soler MOTM, 4/10 teammate stinks – West Ham player ratings v Fulham
West Ham United picked up the first points of the Graham Potter era with a 3-2 victory over Fulham at the London Stadium on Tuesday.
Despite starting on top, it was Fulham who gifted the Irons the lead at the other end, as Andreas Pereira passed straight to Carlos Soler in his own box, and the Spaniard did the rest to make it 1-0. Two minutes later, it was two, as skipper Tomas Soucek doubled the lead from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s low cross.
Fulham pulled one back early in the second half as Alex Iwobi’s cross beat both Raul Jimenez and Lukasz Fabianski, but another Fulham error saw Bernd Leno gift Lucas Paqueta a golden opportunity to make it 3-1. Another Iwobi cross somehow found the net again, with Fabianski beaten by Harry Wilson’s late run.
West Ham Zone rated the performance of every Hammers player out of 10 in East London.
Lukasz Fabianski – 5
Didn’t have much to do in the first half as Fulham fired six shots off-target, but put his body on the line, picking up a knock after clashing with Emerson for a loose ball. Completely bamboozled by two Iwobi crosses either side of Paqueta’s goal, being beaten in bizarre fashion by Jimenez and Wilson’s close-range runs, but did make a fantastic late save to deny the Mexican.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Exposed early on by Iwobi with some slack marking which led to Wilson’s early chance, but was far more effective at the other end; his far-post run and cut-back setting up Soucek to make it 2-0. Booked in the second half for a body-check on Robinson, but continued to hold his ground and help the Irons see out the victory.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 5
Caught in no-man’s land for Fulham’s early second-half strike, neither coming nor going for Iwobi’s cross and leaving Fabianski completely exposed as Jimenez ghosted in behind him.
Max Kilman – 4
Headed in what he thought was the opener from a Hammers free-kick, but was instead penalised for being half a yard offside. Didn’t do much to prevent that lead being halved in the second period, with Jimenez splitting him and Mavropanos to beat Fabianski, and also lost the run of Wilson for Fulham’s second.
Emerson (off for Aaron Cresswell, 81′) – 6
Caught on the wrong side of crosses on a number of occasions as Fulham looked to stretch the Irons early on, but got forward at will and his deflected cross in the second half almost resulted in a fourth goal for the hosts.
Carlos Soler sparks first win for Graham Potter at West Ham
Tomas Soucek – 7
Caught offside along with Kilman to ensure the Hammers’ opening goal from a free-kick was chalked off by VAR, but quickly redeemed himself with the hosts 1-0 up, popping up in the box to lash home Wan-Bissaka’s cut-back. Hacked down Wilson to pick up a booking in the second half, but
Guido Rodriguez (off for Ollie Scarles, 81′) – 4
Relatively anonymous after returning to the starting XI and was fairly ineffective at both ends, but did spray the ball around in midfield to pick out several teammates with cross-field passes before pulling up with cramp and being hooked late on.
Edson Alvarez – 6
Dropped into the backline seemingly more often than he was in midfield at points in the first half, but his influence grew as the game progressed and he acted as the Hammers’ deep-lying playmaker.
Carlos Soler (off for Andy Irving, 72′) – 7
Had barely had a touch before pouncing upon Pereira’s loose pass to fire home on the volley for the Hammers, finding the net with a lovely side-footed finish. Played a big part in the second too, crossing for Wan-Bissaka to tee up Soucek from close range, and was withdrawn midway through the second half.
Lucas Paqueta – 7
Chasing shadows early on, Paqueta stayed forward as the hosts’ main outlet to little effect, but did result in Timothy Castagne picking up a booking for a bad lunge on the Brazilian. Booked himself in the second half for a poor challenge on Wilson, but was then in the right place at the right time to make it 3-1 and sent a later header over the bar.
Mohammed Kudus (off for Danny Ings) – 6
Starting as a striker with the Hammers lacking options up front, Kudus found himself with his back to goal for much of the opening stages, but then sprang into life at 1-0 with a mazy run to inspire his side’s second. Faded following a knock in the second half though, and was withdrawn early for Danny Ings.
Substitutes:
Danny Ings (on for Mohammed Kudus, 63′) – 7 – Brought on early for Kudus and looking to replicate his late heroics at Craven Cottage earlier this season, Ings made an instant impact, pressing Leno into a rushed giveaway which allowed Paqueta to make it 3-1.
Andy Irving (on for Carlos Soler, 72′) – N/A
Ollie Scarles (on for Guido Rodriguez, 81′) – 6 – Made not one, but two crucial blocks on the line to deny Fulham at the death, getting in the way of Adama Traore to keep out his second effort. Got forward straight away at the other end to cross for Paqueta, only for the Brazilian to head over.
Aaron Cresswell (on for Emerson, 81′) – N/A
In other West Ham news, one of the Irons’ Premier League rivals have laid down the terms for a possible transfer to East London.
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