Niall gives his ratings
Randolph: Flapped at a cross early, untroubled thereafter 6
Coufal: Actually looked a little stretched tonight, more to do with the conditions though I think 5
Dawson: Another clean sheet and bagged the winner – a great start to his Hammers career continues!! 7
Ogbonna: Very professional defending, showed his superior strength and pace 6
Johnson: Tried to get forward, not much defending to do 5
Noble: It would be churlish to say the pace of the game suited the skipper 6
Rice: Another full 90 mins and quick-thinking for the short corner led to the goal 6
Yarmolenko: Not really the occasion or pitch for silky skills and struggled to unlock the Stockport defence 5
Benrahma: Bright start but drifted out of the game, as he has tended to do recently 5
Lanzini: Same experience as Yarmolenko 5
Antonio: The main thing is he survived 89 mins unscathed 5
Subs
Bowen: Made a difference with a little bit of quality out wide 6
Soucek: Managed to get onto a couple of crosses 5
Cresswell: Odd change as I didn’t think we were crying out for fresh legs at left-back 5
Odubeko: A debut in stoppage time No rating
Fornals: On in stoppage time for a cup win bonus No rating
Was I the only one to think that Michail Antonio was a pale impression of the player we know? Hugh gave Haller a grudging 4 a couple of games ago. I see Michail has been revised down from first post, but Haller would have been seen to be trying and if worth 4 then Michail should have been a 2. Harsh in the extreme. As stated, just a relief to see him survive 89 minutes. Hopefully he can kick-on against WBA and Burnley. Antonio still a class act. Head and shoulders above most players in PL. Off day against Stockport.
COYI
Might be churlish but it is true . The pace of the game matched Noble much better but he was still the most ineffectual player on the park for either side . It was a perfect opportunity to play Holland as there is nothing to learn about Noble . His day his past and we should be looking at the future . Being skipper also seems to inspire Declan who is more effective with the armband on . Ogbonna and Dawson were excellent in the conditions as they were constantly exposed because of the lack of cover from Lanzini and Noble . Overall a good game to win . COYI
Delighted for and with Dawson, but Oggie MotM for me……
That was bizarre.
Played in a bog. How can anyone be rated? Survival should guarantee a 5 as a minimum.
They should have been given a snorkel.
Next.