In the end , the scoreboard at London Stadium made for comfortable reading as West Ham ran out clear winners against a Derby side who lacked ambition in the first half and should have been routed inside 45 minutes. West Ham, still tentative and lacking in confidence, took a while to get going but finally realised their evident superiority with two late goals and a comfortable three points.
Max Kilman looks infinitely more comfortable at this level. Whether the £40 million man has upped his game or whether the standards in the second division are less demanding (I’ll leave that for you to decide) Kilman looks more assured and confident now. The pairing at the heart of West Ham’s defence may have tougher tests this season – as in the loss to Charlton – but good for the pair to finally chalk up a clean sheet.
Max Kilman looks more suited to life in the Championship
West Ham’s new look midfield is growing in stature: For large parts of the game, for the second match running Divine Mukasa stood head and shoulders above his opponents. This afternoon, however, Arne Engels also stepped up his own game with some really excellent combative tackling and a brilliant run to set up Austbø for the crucial second goal. Twenty two million is a heavy price tag to wear but the young Belgian is growing into it.
And Joel Piroe looks a canny piece of business by West Ham. Last season the Irons lacked someone ready to knock the ball in from six yards but the ex-Leeds man, experienced yet far from pacy, looks to be the perfect man for this League (even though it is easy to see why he’s not perhaps destined for the same success in the top tier). With an excellent striker’s sense he seems to know where to be at the right time to score and who’d bet against him hitting his twenty-goal target this season.
After stumbles and missteps, Nuno does seem to be getting to grips with his squad now, making sensible, solid substitutions after the somewhat odd late withdrawal of Pablo forced him to rethink his starting eleven. High fives all around and fingers crossed that there are no serious issues ahead of the quick turnaround and long trip upto Preston on Tuesday night.
I’m sure you put that in as a teaser, but isnt it Bolton on Tuesday night ?
Hopefully see several different players Austbo and Boiro to start the match, Bowen through the middle if Taty is injured with Scarles rested (sounds better tham dropped)
Maybe a Magassa or Alvarez on the bench too
I thought Scarles had a good game, would be harsh to drop him
Think you’ll find it’s Bolton Tuesday night!!
Disagree. He’s an adequate defender at the Championship level but, so many times today, and this season for that matter, moves break down when he’s in a good attacking position. Let’s hope Boiro can take over soon.
Preston? You mean Bolton
Might want to check the destination for Tuesday night, it does end “on” and is also in Lancashire, but it’s not Preston…
Don’t waste your time travelling up to Preston on Tuesday Martin.
West ham are playing away to Bolton
They are playing Bolton on Tuesday night lol