By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham somehow managed to throw away a two-goal lead at Burnley after looking in complete control. The Hammers played some excellent football at times, particularly in the first half, with Mohamadou Kanté and Manor Solomon showing real quality. Unfortunately, Nuno’s team dropped deeper and deeper after the break, invited Burnley onto them and paid the price. There were some encouraging performances, but defensively West Ham looked increasingly nervous as the game went on.
West Ham Player Ratings
Mads Hermansen: 5
Burnley had a couple of shots early in the game but both went wide of the West Ham goal. Nervy moment when he came out of his area to clear, but Sonne didn’t punish the empty goal. Comfortable save from Ramsey on 26 minutes, by which time the Hammers had settled into the game. Got very lucky when Flemming headed onto the post on 60 minutes. Poor punch led to Burnley’s equaliser.
Kyle Walker-Peters: 6
Very important intervention saw KWP read a cross well to cut out a ball to Bruun Larsen as Burnley started brightly. Excellent pass into Bowen almost yielded a goal. Good battle with Larsen throughout the game, who caused some problems. Good tackle on Humphreys as West Ham dropped deeper and deeper, inviting pressure.
Konstantinos Mavropanos: 5
Headed over following a Bowen free-kick. Not convincing when Flemming climbed above him to head against the post in the second half as momentum swung towards Burnley. Thought he looked shaky at times.
Max Kilman: 6
Scored the opening goal after 10 minutes when he headed home from Jarrod Bowen’s corner. Wish he was a bit more aggressive in his defending. His scuffed clearance didn’t help as Flemming made it 2-2.
Ollie Scarles: 6
Early promise with his link-up play with Solomon. Some decent passing and played very high up the pitch at times. Headed off the line from Flemming on 64 minutes with the Clarets well on top. Conceded a penalty when a clumsy challenge on Marcus Edwards allowed Flemming to make it 2-1. Unnecessary.
Mohamadou Kanté: 7
Took a very sensible card to thwart a counter-attack. Impressive how he side-steps opposition players. Repeated the trick we saw against Portsmouth last week by jinking past a couple of defenders and setting up the chance for Solomon to score West Ham’s second.
Lewis Orford: 7
Such a lovely passer of the ball and made at least three blocks in the first half.
Jarrod Bowen: 6
Got the first of what will be many assists this season when he set up Kilman for the opening goal. His work rate was outstanding as he battled for every ball. Unlucky when a goalbound shot hit Kilman.
Very tricky and I suspect he’ll have a very good highlight reel. Brilliant delivery into the box just before half-time and I was very impressed with how he covered for Scarles after he made an error. Scored on his debut after great work from Kanté and an error by the Burnley keeper, finishing high into the roof of the net to make it 2-0. The timing was important because the home team had the momentum.
Pablo Felipe: 5
The usual graft. Hooked at half-time for Ward-Prowse.
Taty Castellanos: 6
Dropped deep to link play to good effect. Had a shot after 30 minutes but seemed annoyed Solomon hadn’t given him the ball earlier. Got a yellow for a revenge tackle on Kyle Walker then almost talked himself into a red. This lad has some temper on him.
Substitutes
James Ward-Prowse: 5
Replaced Pablo at half-time. Played steady enough, but the second half began far more slowly than the first 45. Could have done better for Burnley’s second.
El Hadji Malick Diouf: 4
On for Scarles on 86 minutes.
Joël Veltman: Unrated
88th-minute swap for Solomon as West Ham were hanging on and Nuno wanted to waste time.
Just had that same old Hammers vulnerability written all over it again!
Having followed West Ham for over 60 years, I just anticipated our collapse, seen it numerous times.
Nuno still doesn’t fill me with optimism or confidence, talks a great game… but ultimately not delivering IMO!
I can only hope he may have learnt something constructive today and will prove us all wrong.
I think that Nuno should instruct his players to pass the ball to the players who are wearing the same colour shirt that they are wearing. Scarles had an awful match at left back and should be replaced by Diouf who has the pedigree of a Senegal international. Bowen cremains a good player but has little close support. Very few of the team showed fight or enthusiasm. Anxiety was apparent from first whistle to last. Burnley deserved their point.
Nuno failure from start to finish. We didn’t have any control of the game in midfield from the very start. And then to simply drop deeper and try and hang on was ridiculous. The coach is our biggest weakness.
We was fine until our negative manager changed things at half time.
We was very lucky to go 2-0 up and then we done a Nuno!
So negative, so dissapointing!
You’re wrong, pablo went off due to a calf issue that’s why JWP was brought on.
Pablo, Scarlels and Nuno must go.
Clueless, incompetent and just not up to the job!
Unless Nuno puts more emphasis on attacking football and not defensive we will be staying in the championship.
He never learns that sitting back is a recipe for disaster,
Can we also have a Nuno rating Gonzo?
At least Solomon played for what? 85 minutes before he got injured?
Disappointing but away to Burnley was always going to be one of the more challenging games of the season. A few more signings required but then we should be good.
Can’t wait for Thomas Frank to take over!! 🤦🏻♂️
I was rather hoping Staveley could persuade Eddie Howe to have a go…
I thought Pablo linked play well with some nice touches, but then did something clumsy like getting in the way when Bowen was shaping to shoot. He reminds me of me washing up, generally ok but there is always a mistake waiting happen and it’s usually the wife’s favourite crockery 😊⚒️⚒️
I completely disagree about Kanté. He is absolutely not good enough. Solomon looked good value.
But Scarles. Oh dear me. Just not even Championship standard. Not just because he gave away a needless penalty. My heart is in my mouth every time he goes near the ball. And his delivery into the box is woeful.
But the main culprit today was the manager. He’s learned nothing from giving away more points from winning positions than any other team. Still he persists in trying close out games to far from the end. Today it was a Nuno record, when he set out his stall by replacing Pablo (who at least makes a nuisance of himself, if nothing else) with JWP at half time. From that moment there was nothing more certain than a draw at best. I’m furious!
It was like watching last season in disguise! Early days I know but we looked far better at 442 so why change it? Hmmmmm It’s going to be a long season me thinks.
When are we ever going to learn?
Nuno AGAIN!!! We’re looking good, so Striker off, Defensive midfielder on. Two points lost first day.
Kamikaze West Ham.
Scarles 3
Solomon 8
Mavro & Kilman 4 each
Nuno 2
Why bring on JWP for Pablo everything was fine until then.
Absolutely correct as soon as James ward rubbish comes on the team fall apart he never puts a tackle in should never be in the team again
New season, same old West Ham. Can’t keep the ball, can’t defend and manager doesn’t trust them. Sound familiar? Engles and Piroe alone won’t fix it. Fuming ….
Bookmakers might want to revise their odds.
Nuno needs to hope his phone rings with Disasi saying I’m on my way back.
Burnley players summed it up need to play to final whistle.
Whu need to get their transfers soughted sooner than later.
Kante stays also Alvarez.
Didn’t see the game – I am in Portugal, but your reports make me feel that this was just a repeat of last season’s games. Hope I am wrong & that I have taken your inferences the wrong way, because we all know how that ended ! First (uninformed ) opinion ? A very disappointing start to the season.
Didn’t see the game – I am in Portugal – but your reports make me think that this is simply a repeat of last season’s performances. Hope that I have taken the wrong inferences, because we all know how that ended !
Overall, a point was about fair, after West Ham tactically allowed Burnley back into a game they must have thought was gone at 2 down?
With £100mil.+++ Worth of players not even on the bench, Koppen had some work to do.
When is the manager going to learn dropping deep surrendering possession and inviting the opposition on doesn’t work
Same old. So disappointing. No excuses.
What is the matter, do the players real hate Nuno that much ?
I didn’t actually see the game so difficult to comment but from looking at the stats and how many shots Burnley had late on, I can almost see the game we sit back to try to conserve the 2 goal lead same old Nuno. We can’t tolerate this exact copy of last season and need to get shot of Nuno sharpish if there is not a major change in this attitude
Several positives, however, we shot ourselves in the foot and were lucky to take a point in the end
Positives
Pablo removed at half time
Bowen
Kante
Solomon
Orford
Kilman !
KWP
Negatives
Pablo making the team
No defensive midfielder — where was Alveraz
Scarles well and truly messing up when he didn’t need to take a risk
Going ultra defensive
Taty allowing himself to get booked for Walker’s elbow
Diouf
Nuno just can’t help himself. A clear weakness in his management style and just cannot cope when leading in the second half. He failed to stop the inevitable by defending deep and handed the momentum to the opposition. It’s like Groundhog Day with Nuno.
Sorry, scarles cost us last year with errors and that rash challenge today .
A liability I’m afraid . Cost us last season and again today
Arrrgh!
When is he ever going to learn leave a threat up front for gods sake
Nuno nightmare
Absolutely pathetic I wouldn’t give any of them more than 5
They stopped playing and half time . Usual Nuno drop deeper and deeper. No leadership on the pitch . As for playing JWP on the wing and moving Bowen inside has never worked . Clueless can’t wait to see the back of him
A rather sad draw after a difficult match. Great debut by Solomon. A good game by Kante and Kilman. After watching Fleming’s activity on the pitch, there is room for improvement in Tati’s game.