West Ham United stunned Nottingham Forest with a thrilling 3-0 win at the City Ground as Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Callum Wilson found the net.
What looked to be ambling towards a tense stalemate exploded into action in the last ten minutes.
Jarrod Bowen fired West Ham United in front on 84 minutes, Lucas Paqueta doubled the lead from the penalty spot, before Callum Wilson opened his account on a day when Mateus Fernandes impressed on debut.
Here is how Hammers News rated Graham Potter’s players.
1 Mads Hermansen – 6/10
Under the microscope after his nightmare start, Hermansen was clearly targeted by Forest from corner kicks. He was much more commanding than against Sunderland or Chelsea, though, albeit well protected by those in front of him.
Only gets a 6/10 because the few saves he did have to make – from Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi – flew straight into his hands.
Almost caught out with one risky piece of distribution.
2 Kyle Walker-Peters – 7/10
A tough afternoon against Hudson-Odoi but he did well. The West Ham fans wanted Walker-Peters to start ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Potter obliged, rightly so.
‘KWP’ made one really solid, Wan-Bissaka-style sliding tackle to halt Hudson-Odoi in the box.
15 Konstantinos Mavropanos – 7/10
Good footwork in tight areas up against the Forest pressing. In for Jean-Clair Todibo, Mavropanos was the right choice for a game like this due to his physicality and aerial presence.
3 Max Kilman – 6/10
He and Mavropanos will be extremely happy with their days work. Kilman does lose a mark, however, as he was caught ball-watching for Wood’s only real chance of the afternoon just after the break.
12 El Hadji Malick Diouf – 8/10
Jarrod Bowen raved about Diouf’s crossing, and it’s clear to see why.
His stunning delivery made Callum Wilson’s header a bit of a formality in stoppage time. Diouf was terrific at the other end too, for the most part, with some really important back-post headers.
Probably got the better of Forest winger Dan Ndoye. A terrific, all-round display.
8 James Ward-Prowse – 6/10
Far less exposed in the centre due to the change in formation. Ward-Prowse dropped deep to give Hermansen an option when building up, and was one of many Hammers to perform their defensive duties diligently.
Not much to report with the ball at his feet, though.
Replaced by Andy Irving.
28 Tomas Soucek – 6/10
Alongside Ward-Prowse, Soucek helped clog up the gaps and protect the backline.
His distribution was suspect at times, though, particularly when he played one shocking pass out of play. Probably not the ideal man to play at the base of the midfield when he needs to progress play and break things up, though this is where Soungoutou Magassa comes in.
20 Jarrod Bowen – 8/10
Grew into the game spectacularly. Barely involved in the first half four but gobbled up the only real half-chance which came his way with a sublime first-half finish on the turn.
Good work defensively to help Walker-Peters too, while Bowen also bamboozled Elliott Anderson to create a chance which Paqueta squandered at 0-0.
One sensational run at the death.
18 Mateus Fernandes – 8/10
Arguably the best player on the pitch.
Graham Potter believes Mateus Fernandes gives West Ham a ‘different dimension’, and that was in evidence here. Started how he meant to go on by playing a zippy one-two with Paqueta, and is the one Hammers midfielder capable of driving them up the pitch with a turn of pace.
Drifting out to the left, Fernandes set up a Paqueta shot with a superb run in behind the Forest defence before creating another opportunity for Fullkrug. The £18 million signing from Southampton also worked really hard defensively and made a few interceptions.
Replaced by Summerville.
10 Lucas Paqueta – 7/10
A trademark Paqueta afternoon, flitting from brilliant to baffling. Had the first shot on target after 39 minutes and skewed an excellent chance wide just past the break. Paqueta, like Bowen, made his mark as the game went on and scored his penalty with consummate ease.
Still far too casual at times though, and set Forest away on a counter-attack with one awful misplaced pass
As Aston Villa close in the Brazil international, this could be a victorious farewell.
11 Niclas Fullkrug – 4/10
Tony Cottee felt sorry for Fullkrug after watching him toil against Sunderland. However, the big German must take his share of the blame following another largely anonymous display. Up against Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, he got nothing out of Forest’s giant central defensive duo.
One early header flew miles over the bar, and Fullkrug’s hold-up play very poor at times. There was, at least, one powerful left-footed drive which Sels parried.
Replaced by Wilson
Substitutes
9 Callum Wilson – 8/10
Stunning impact. Whisper it, but Wilson offers far more than Fullkrug.
Opened his account with a well-placed header from Diouf’s magnificent cross. Footwork was excellent at times too in a crowded penalty area.
39 Andy Irving – 6/10
Helped progress play.
7 Crysencio Summerville – 8/10
What an impact. Anton Ferdinand feels Summervile can be West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus replacement, and there were shades of the Ghanaian in the way he blitzed through Forest’s defence with explosive pace and sublime close control.
Set up Bowen’s opener moments after coming on and then won the penalty with another thrilling run, forcing a foul from Ibrahim Sangare.
