West Ham United strode to a superb 3-1 win over a much-hyped Aston Villa side in front of England manager Gareth Southgate.
Villa boss absolutely raves about Moyes and West Ham, namechecks almost entire team
The Three Lions boss was watching on from the stands at Villa Park. And with good reason.
He had a number of West Ham and Villa players to keep an eye on including Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, Ross Barkley, Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell, Tyrone Mings and Jesse Lingard.
All the talk before the game was about Villa stars Grealish and Barkley.
If Carlsberg did debuts… Lingard runs the show and outshines Grealish and Barkley in front of Southgate
But it was West Ham new boy Lingard who ran the game and stole the show. Quite some achievement given it was his first Premier League minutes of the season and only his third game in seven months.
The new West Ham loan ranger used to be one of the first names on Southgate’s teamsheet for England.
And on this evidence it is easy to see why.
Lingard was not only West Ham’s best player, he was man of the match and the best player on the pitch.
He outshone Grealish – undoubtedly one of the best talents in Europe – and the dreadful Barkley, who was hauled off after a series of errant passes.
Fabs poor kicking the only blot on West Ham’s copybook
Southgate can’t help but to have been impressed by the West Ham playmaker ahead of naming his England squad next month.
Lingard’s display was a cool 9/10 – not bad for your West Ham debut.
But how did West Ham’s other stars rate after a victory which consolidates the club in fifth place in the Premier League.
Lukasz Fabianski, 6.5/10. Fabianski didn’t do a lot wrong but his kicking – which fans have noticed he has struggled with ever since that injury – was poor all night. At times it put the team under unnecessary pressure. In truth he didn’t have a lot to do but was slow to close the angle for Villa’s goal. Other than that solid and excellent on crosses and corners.
West Ham player ratings vs Aston Villa
Aaron Cresswell, 8/10. Excellent display again from one of the players of the season. Solid defensively and nearly had a stunning assist with ball to Michail Antonio but for Mings’s clearance off the line.
Angelo Ogbonna, 8/10. Rock. Brick wall. Call him what you want, Ogbonna gets better with age like an Italian fine wine.
Craig Dawson, 8/10. A couple of slips on the ball in the first half. But solid as ever and stood strong during dangerous 10-minute Villa spell. A revelation.
Vladimir Coufal, 9/10. Many people’s man of the match. A beast. Did not give Grealish a kick. Superb player, man and signing. Already a cult hero and a legend in the making.
Ryan Fredericks, 8/10. A shock name on the teamsheet but he certainly repaid the faith of David Moyes. Tag teamed Grealish with Coufal and offered a great threat going forward with his pace. Also put in some excellent crosses.
Tomas Soucek, 9/10. Another contender for man of the match, Soucek was everywhere as usual. Defending his own box one minute, making the third man run and smashing home a superb goal the next. An all round footballer and one of the best signings in West Ham’s modern history.
Declan Rice, 9/10. Rock solid after a poor display – by his high standards – against Liverpool. Keep things very simple but consistently broke the Villa lines with runs and passes to find Lingard. Excellent.
Said Benrahma, 8/10. Worked his socks off yet again and provided a constant threat. Linked with with Lingard and grabbed a brilliant assist with a slide rule pass for Soucek. Also had two pre-assists for the other West Ham goals. Should have scored himself but that will come.
Jesse Lingard, 9/10. Two goals on his debut, man of the match and a class apart.
Michail Antonio, 8/10. Wasteful in front of goal again but did not let it get to him and provided a target man, outlet and two assists for Lingard.
Subs: Fornals, Johnson and Bowen, 6/10. Not on long enough to make an impact although Pablo showed some neat touches.
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