Jarrod Bowen shines again as Edson Alvarez struggles – West Ham United player ratings vs Sheffield United
West Ham got back to winning ways in relatively comfortable fashion with a 2-0 win over a limited Sheffield United on the strength of their first-half performance.
Jarrod Bowen scored his first goal at home in the 24th minute, slotting Vladimir Coufal’s cut back into the far corner after lovely four-man build-up, then Tomas Soucek doubled the lead on 37 minutes, sliding Michail Antonio’s pass in after a nice run into the box.
A far scrappier affair after the break saw West Ham lose control when they really should have made it pay, but played out the half for a much-needed victory.
Here, West Ham Zone rates the Hammers players out of 10 for their performances at the London Stadium.
Alphonse Areola – 7
A spectator for most of the match as his teammates largely dominated the game but was alert to keep a close-range header out just inside the hour.
Vladimir Coufal – 5
Okay. Got forward in space and cut the ball back perfectly for Bowen to score the opener, but was left chasing too often. Most of the little threat that Sheffield United mustered seemed to come down his wing.
Kurt Zouma – 7
Largely very good. Commanding in the air and blocked a number of shots but misjudged one aerial delivery late on which Oli McBurnie headed narrowly wide.
Nayef Aguerd – 7
Much-improved performance after putting himself in the spotlight with a few high-profile mistakes in recent weeks. Made a fantastic early block do deny Cameron Archer from inside the area and did what was needed thereafter, admittedly in the face of less pressure than the last couple of games. Good positioning.
Emerson – 6
Fairly nondescript afternoon. Wasn’t as much of an outlet down the left as Coufal on the opposite side but didn’t really do anything obviously wrong.
Tomas Soucek – 7
Good first half, nothing second half. Wasted an excellent early chance by leaning back and firing over the bar but had a key role in the build up to the opener and then scuffed the second home after a positive run into the box. If he can keep scoring it is hard to complain too much.
Edson Alvarez (off for Benrahma ’72) – 4
Unsettled display. Played past too easily on a few occasions in the midfield but had an important part in the move that put his side one up. Booked after being put in trouble by Paqueta before the break and then risked a second too often with a few fouls in the second half. Against stronger opposition he would surely have been punished.
Jarrod Bowen (off for Fornals ’92) – 8 – Man of the Match
True to the song, on fire right now. Great start to shrug off James McAtee and set up Soucek for what should have been the opener then had a header cleared off the line soon after. No surprise when he calmly put West Ham ahead. Influence faded after the half.
James Ward-Prowse – 7
Quiet for long periods as against Liverpool but his dead ball deliveries were a weapon as expected. Struggled to get involved as much in open play as the game become scrappy after the break but almost laid on a third late on as his quality on the ball shone through.
Lucas Paqueta (off for Mavropanos ’92) – 7
Creatively he was the leader from the first minute but started to get ahead of himself as West Ham took control. Dropped Alvarez in it by show-boating on the ball before the break, with the Mexican booked for trying to rescue the situation. Sharpened up thereafter but forced to do too much of his work deep in his own half.
Michail Antonio (off for Kudus ’72 ) – 7
Excellent work throughout the first half, putting the Blades on the back foot by bullying visiting defenders. Slid a nice assist through for Soucek to double the lead. Probably should have smashed a third home first time when Bowen cut a ball back to him in the second half. May have been injured when he went off.
Substitutions
Saed Benrahma (on for Alvarez ’72) – 5
Frustrating cameo as he was crowded out too easily and unable to do much with possession.
Mohammed Kudus (on for Antonio ’72) – 6
Provided some much-needed attacking thrust at a time when West Ham were losing control but didn’t see much of the ball.
Pablo Fornals (on for Bowen ’92) – N/A
Konstantinos Mavropanos (on for Paqueta ’92) – N/A
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are chasing a move for a new South American “sensation” who looks to be headed to the Premier League.