Hammers fly close to the wind in Conf League win

West Ham beat Silkeborg 3-2 despite a very nervy final 10 minutes!

The Hammers were clearly the better team in the first half, although they did fall behind to a sixth-minute goal from Kasper Kusk. He got the better of Craig Dawson and finished well.

But the Irons made their superiority count and hit back swiftly.

Maxwel Cornet was fouled in the box and Manuel Lanzini stepped up to score the resulting penalty.

Gianluca Scamacca then added a second on 26 minutes, as the Hammers pressed high and won the ball back in Silkeborg’s third; it was played into the Italian, who turned and smacked the ball into the roof of the net from range.

Dawson then added a third on 38 minutes, seemingly sending the Hammers out of sight, as he headed home from a set-piece.

But after a slow second half, in which Said Benrahma did see an effort cleared off the line, Silkeborg forced a nervy finish.

Soren Tengstedt pulled a goal back on 75 minutes and they continued to press from there, forcing a great save from Alphonse Areola before the 90 minutes were out.

The Irons were clearly the better team for the majority but, blimey, they don’t make it easy!