Tough start: Flynn Downes
(Picture: REUTERS)Flynn Downes opened up on his “tough” start to life at West Ham after a breakthrough performance helped put his side firmly on course for the Europa Conference League knockout rounds in Belgium last night.
Gianluca Scamacca’s late strike secured a 1-0 win over Anderlecht which sent the Hammers five points clear at the top of Group B with three matches to play.
The introduction of Scamacca, along with Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta, 20 minutes from time ultimately proved decisive but until the arrival of the trio, Downes’s display had been the major positive for David Moyes.
It was just his second start since moving to the London Stadium from Swansea in the summer, with the lifelong Hammers fan having had to be patient for opportunities.
“I loved it,” said Downes. “It was a special night for me and good to top it with a win. It’s been tough. For any player not playing it’s tough and you’ve just got to keep your head down, keep training hard, trying to improve and get in the team. Then, when you get opportunities you’ve got to take them. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
West Ham swooped late to pip Crystal Palace to the signing of the Swans midfielder in a deal worth an initial £9million, but Moyes has been hesitant to use him in the first team, amid suggestions Downes has found the step up from the Championship a challenging one.
“It’s been a big adjustment,” said Downes. “The way we played at Swansea is very different to the way everyone else plays. I feel like I’m adjusting now and I’ve got to keep working hard and see where that takes me.”
Moyes made nine changes to his line-up in Brussels but his side should still have had the game won prior to the introduction of Scamacca & Co, with Said Benrahma guilty of missing the best of several good chances as he lifted the ball over with the goal gaping.
Scamacca’s superb turn and finish — his fourth in five games in the competition — eventually made it back-to-back wins since the international break, following Saturday’s crucial victory over Wolves, though only after Alphonse Areola produced a stunning late save to preserve his clean sheet.
Moyes is likely to return to the bulk of the XI that started against Wolves for Sunday’s visit of Fulham, but the Scot admitted the performance of Downes has given him food for thought.
“Flynn played really well,” Moyes said. “Him and Jarrod Bowen were really good and the goalkeeper made a couple of great saves. But Flynn has given us something to think about. He’s only just beginning to get used to what we want.”
Even with Tomas Soucek struggling for form, it seems unlikely Downes will immediately break into Moyes’s Premier League side but with the Hammers in action twice a week between now and the World Cup, he is unlikely to have to wait quite so long for his next opening.
“There are so many games, that’s why we’ve got a big squad,” Downes added. “Hopefully, the gaffer can see what I can do, hopefully he plays me a bit more.
“Everyone knows how big a win is and when you start getting that winning momentum, like we’ve got from this competition, now we can take that into the league.”
