Back-up keeper Roberto defied a few early season critics with a decent display between the sticks last night and was delighted with his first team debut.
He and striker Albian Ajeti made a winning bow on their first appearances with the keeper looking comfortable for the 90 minutes.
The Spaniard – signed from Espanyol in the summer – was rarely troubled and made a couple of very good saves which ensured the Hammers preserved a clean sheet.
He had come in for criticism during pre-season but demonstrated these are not games which should be taken too seriously as an indication of what’s to come.
And he gave an analysis of the game which just about nails how things worked out in the club’s opening Carabao Cup match of the season.
He was tested by was tested by efforts from Padraig Amond and Kyle Howkins either side of the break, and played his part in what was always going to be a tricky clash against ‘up for it’ lower division opposition.
Speaking at https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/august/28-august/roberto-was-great-way-start he said “It’s always very good to start like this. I hope to keep the same rhythm, along with all of us, in this competition as it will help the team for Premier League games as well. It’s always good to win with a clean sheet, of course.
“Tonight was a good night for us and now we’ll get ready for Saturday.
“Jack’s goal just before half-time to go 1-0 up was important. They press high and were very strong in defence for the first 45 minutes.
“We knew from the beginning that if we stopped them and kept our goal at zero in the first 45 minutes, then in the second half they would go a little bit more low because that’s normal. It was exactly like that.”
His save from Amond on 24 minutes was vitally important and he added: “We know suffering a goal against this kind of team makes things difficult so I was happy with that save.
“We’ve won two in a row now and we work very strongly every day to keep on this way. We’ll try to keep that going.”