Key Hammers rated and Rav looks rusty
A match report and quotes will appear later but here ClaretandHugh’s associate editor Sean Whetstone casts his eye over some of the ‘key’ Irons on show tonight.
Ravel Morrison looked rusty in his trade mark gloves and he didn’t feature for the first 20 minutes.
He finally got involved with his best moment – a circling free kick which was saved by Mark Howard but minutes later he was booked for diving in the box.
This was not the play maker we know and he disappeared for large parts of the second half .He came off after 7 minutes of extra time to be replaced by Mark Noble and was applauded the Boleyn ground crowd.
Although Enner Valencia was getting on a lot of balls his finishing was poor and many shots going straight at the goal keeper Mark Howard.
I expected his finishing to clinical but I guess this is his first full debut. However, he will need to improve to win over the fans. Jury is still out on him for now.
Diafra Sakho had a great start and looked a right handful. He out shone Valencia and was rewarded with a goal from an excellent backwards header. Well deserved and surprised when he was subbed for Stewart Downing. He could be the bargain of the summer.
Although the back four including youngsters Danny Potts and Reece Burke looked strong most of the game, to be honest they weren’t troubled too much except from set pieces.
A rare lapse of concentration from Winston Reid cost us the equaliser and he was dispossessed a few times . Burke had the better game.
Overall the team of youngsters, experienced and new signings looked good on paper but they have little time to gel as a unit and it showed.
One of best players on the pic his Mo Diame who won the sponsors man of the match.