By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham produced their most complete performance of the season to demolish Wrexham 6-0 at the London Stadium.
By the time the Hammers were 3-0 ahead, it was almost impossible to find anyone having a bad game. The front four were sizzling, Divine Mukasa and Arne Engels controlled midfield and Nuno Espírito Santo’s team played through Wrexham’s press with ease. This was a proper statement to the rest of the Championship.
West Ham Player Ratings
Mads Hermansen – 6
Had very little to do. The statistics may show attempts on his goal, but many were from distance and blocked before reaching him. In fact, West Ham’s biggest defensive intervention came from Mavropanos rather than Hermansen.
Joel Veltman – 6
Absolute top quality during his half-hour on the pitch. His intelligence was evident when a quickly taken throw caught Wrexham unprepared and created Bowen’s shot against the bar. Unfortunately sustained a knock and was replaced after 29 minutes.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 7
An eventful performance. Gave the ball away to create Wrexham’s best opportunity but then raced back to clear the resulting shot off the line. At the other end he continued his remarkable threat from set pieces, heading home Bowen’s corner for his third goal in four games. That prediction of double figures this season isn’t looking quite so silly now.
Max Kilman – 6
It’s not his fault he had practically nothing to do, such was the brilliance of everybody in front of him. His first meaningful contribution was actually an attacking one, dribbling out of defence before pinging a 30-yard cross-field pass onto Veltman’s chest. Comfortable throughout.
Morato – 7
Did a pretty good impression of a left-back, all things considered. Tackled the lively Danny Imray on at least three occasions during the first half and defended his flank well. Also produced the overlapping run and low cross for Bowen’s opening goal.
Arne Engels – 7
Another Duracell Bunny performance. His energy alongside Mukasa helped West Ham control midfield and his set-piece delivery caused Wrexham real problems. One vicious corner really should have resulted in a Mavropanos goal during the first half.
Divine Mukasa – 8
His passing was crisp and neat and his partnership with Engels continues to develop. For all Mukasa’s obvious technical ability, what has been particularly impressive is how quickly he has adapted to the physicality of senior football. More than happy to stand toe-to-toe with anyone trying to out-muscle him. Produced a wonderful cross-field pass in the build-up to Bowen’s opener.
Bowen and Taty celebrate after scoring for West Ham
Jarrod Bowen – 9
Absolutely sizzling. Hit the bar early, scored the opener from three yards and provided the pinpoint corner for Mavropanos to make it 3-0. Could easily have added another himself and was at the heart of West Ham’s best attacking football. Captain’s performance.
Manor Solomon – 10
Brilliant. Comfortably West Ham’s best ball carrier, although he can occasionally become predictable cutting inside from the left. Created Piroe’s goal with a beautiful defence-splitting pass, chipped another wonderful assist for Kanté and thoroughly deserved his own goal. Cut inside before beautifully placing a left-footed shot off the post and into the net.
Joel Piroe – 8
Should have scored earlier when released ten yards from goal but fired high, wide and handsome. Made amends emphatically, finishing Castellanos’ unselfish pass for West Ham’s second. Worked hard defensively too, making blocks to protect his teammates, and was involved in some excellent attacking combinations.
Taty Castellanos – 9
Brilliant throughout. Dropped deep to link the play, pressed relentlessly and produced some lovely touches, including an outrageous flicked backheel. Was guilty of being incredibly greedy on one first-half attack but then showed the complete opposite for Piroe’s goal, unselfishly squaring for his strike partner. Got the goal his performance deserved after the break with a lovely curled left-footed finish.
Substitutes
Kyle Walker-Peters – 8
Replaced the injured Veltman and became increasingly influential. The highlight was an extraordinary counter-attack for West Ham’s fourth. Started inside his own penalty area defending a corner, carried the ball almost the length of the pitch and helped create Castellanos’ goal. Another surging run also contributed to Solomon making it six.
Mohamadou Kanté – 8
Made an immediate impact and scored possibly the best goal of the game. Raced beyond the Wrexham defence onto Solomon’s chipped pass and, after a slightly loose first touch, absolutely rifled his second into the roof of the net from an incredibly difficult angle.
Ollie Scarles – 6
Came on with the game already won and helped West Ham see out a dominant performance.
Lewis Orford – 6
Only had ten minutes but immediately sat in front of the defence, pinged the ball around and looked to take control of the tempo. Read the play well to make a late interception before understandably fancying his chances of scoring number seven from distance.
Josh Ajala – 5
Didn’t really see enough of the ball during his ten minutes to make much of an impact, which was a shame. Still great to see him get some minutes.
I have to say I was really impressed with the shift that Morato put in. The teamsheet before the start made me nervous as I recall Forest fans when we signed him saying he was a total liability at LB but he sure looked the part tonight! Would still love to see what Boiro brings but Morato looked class.
Ajala and Orford could have come on at 4-0,strange to see Morato come off so early too.
At last Nuno can see that Pablo doesn’t win us games,the opposite in fact we score 6.
At last Nuno goes out and attacks this division. How simple is that. ow good is that.
I feel sorry for Nuno he can seem to do no right, if he took off Bowen and others too early and the opposition scores and gets a head of steam then he would also be in the wrong, he cannot win, I understand the wanting to rest players totally of course though, glad I am not the manager is all I can say. Best game I have seen though as long as I can remember.
With Bowen & Engels corners I should think every supporter & bookie would have big Mav to get double figures in this league
Kante’s loose first touch, AKA, a deft touch of control of the highest order 🤣
A super WH win. Probably WH‘s best game in a long, long time. Overall impressive performances. Of the new players, Solomon was outstanding, he never stopped running, produced an assist and in the end also scored himself. And KWP produced two great assists. That‘s the spirit!
I hope when Soucek gets back they use him instead of Mukasa. The latter can make some brilliant passes but I don’t think he puts in the work.
PJF…….. what?!!!!
I’ve heard it all now 😂😂😂
@Steve1, he must be trolling, right? This is what it looks like when you have 2 young, mobile mids NOT making it look like hard work! I thought they were absolutely fantastic. Engles and Mukasa were absolutely at the heart of that performance, and Wrexham’s midfield couldn’t lay a finger on them.
In other news, we have had Spud’s trousers down with Manor Solomon. 5 million quid? Absolute steal.
Probably the best all round team performance I’ve seen for years. Bowen in particular was incredible.
Is there a problem whenever I write a comment, it never appears, or is pending? 🤷
Kante is a killer sub to bring on.
Well done to nuno for using him so well!
Cup game will undoubtedly have an unrecognisable starting line up.
Big question can they get a win at the den, 0-3 will do mustn’t be greedy.
Well done whu.
A great win, almost dampened slightly by Scarles giving away yet another penalty at the end.
Thank goodness we’ve got reinforcements at left-back as, again, Scarles has shown that he’s not capable of even playing at this level right now.
How fans keep defending him, I don’t know. He’s simply not good enough. Fans need to stop being so blinkered.
Anyway, very well done to the rest of the team for an outstanding performance. 👏 ⚒️
Love it when I told my son this wasn’t our highest win, it was 8-1 against Newcastle when Alvin Martin scored a hat trick and our defenders scored 5 of the goals, I was 10 listening on BBC world service in 1986. This is why I get frustrated with all the negativity, this it what it means to be a West Ham fan we take the high and lows and keep believing, what a result COYI.
Remember it well addo I listened on the radio as well alvins hat trick was against 3 different goalkeepers still a record to this day.
Addo……….
don’t forget the 8-0 against Sunderland, Geoff Hurst scoring 6, and the 10-0 against Bury.
Yeah and then we bought the bury centre half pual hilton.😀
It’s the ‘West Ham way’ 😂
Great result–just one moan…. why oh why when we go 4 nil up, doesn’t Nuno take Bowen & Taty off
Bowen needs resting whenever possible and we HAVE TO find someone to play on the right wing if and when Jarrod does get injured
Taty on the other hand is coming back from injury, but gets booked too often
So true, from 50 mins I’m looking at the bench thinking give the poor guy a rest