An FA Cup debut for Ollie Scarles made the headlines as Graham Potter’s first West Ham United team selection faced off against Aston Villa who were in an unfamiliar black and white strip, celebrating their own 150th anniversary. Paquetá a whisker away immediately, a left footed 30-yarder kissing the post – the culmination of a Summerville break down the right. West Ham on the front foot.
An interesting set up, Summerville started wide on the right, looking like a wing-back. Kudus ahead of him in a more ‘inside right’ position. Scarles pushed very wide on the left, hugging the touch line as soon as the Hammers get possession, Paquetá an inside left.
8 Minutes gone and I jumped off the sofa as a lovely break from Summerville down the right with a perfect passed cross allowed Paquetá -again at inside left – to slot home. 1-0 West Ham! What a ‘high’ to start the Potter era.
And then the low – 2 minutes later and Niclas Fullkrug crashed down mid sprint – could almost hear his hamstring twang from miles away. The poor hapless guy had to be helped off: He’ll not be playing again any time soon. Ings on. The cupboard is bare now for Hammers’ strikers.
Three times, Summerville and Kudus combined well, it looked like Villa were not prepared for this attacking presence down the right. I certainly wasn’t!
25 minutes gone and Villa hadn’t had a sniff. Big cheers for Scarles’ first couple of interceptions at left back.
Summerville next sprints back to make a brilliant defensive tackle but goes down holding his own hamstring: Worrying moments whilst we waited to see if he’d carry on.
Fortunately all seemed ok and shortly after he was at it again, another brilliant defensive clearance from Summerville: This is the player who couldn’t get into Lopetegui’s XI. Half time, and innovative wide play from West Ham, Kudus and Summerville both on the right, and Paqueta and Scarles on the left. Hope for more of the same!
Both Wan Bissaka and Summerville were limping through the latter stages of that half, though.
Sure enough, Coufal on for Summerville at half time. Reorganisation followed but Villa coming more into the game, great defending from Mavropanos holding off Watkins. Much less West Ham threat without Summerville now. An hour gone, West Ham seemed to have adjusted, and more neat, tidy passing, Alvarez blowing hard at 65 minutes. West Ham playing a back line of six when out of possession now, defending very deep right in the 18 yard line. Fabianski suddenly called on to make a super save from a swerving shot.
Lots of Villa pressure now. A corner (wrongly awarded) led to the equaliser by Onana -shovelled over the line after Fabianski spilt a shot. Looked like there was only one winner now, West Ham without much threat going forward. And yes, as expected, Villa grabbed a second after Watkins’ centred for Rogers to stab home. Can’t help thinking this game was lost when Summerville went off.
Scarles off for Cresswell: Well played, young man. This will be a test of West Ham’s resilience, of late they’ve been losing by an avalanche. Important for the Potter era that the flood-gates don’t open in the last ten minutes. Alvarez and the dazed Mavropanous off after being poleaxed. Soler and Guilherme on. Dig in, Hammers. And they did. Pressure, shots, corners, really giving it a go.Great attitude from West Ham to finish valiantly even in defeat, Danny Ings skying his one chance from 6 yards in the last minute.
Ollie Scarles won the Man of the Match award. ‘Summerville would have won it if he’d stayed on the pitch’
