West Ham United are currently winning 2-1 at half-time in their mid-season friendly with League One side Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.
Zeno Ibsen Rossi's strike at the end of a corner had given Cambridge a first-half lead on the 30-minute mark. A minute later, a thunderous right-footed strike from Jarrod Bowen from the edge of the box rifled into the top corner in the testimonial match for Cambridge captain Greg Taylor. An own goal from Lewis Simper at the end of the half gave the Hammers the lead.
Here is how football.london ’s West Ham United writer Jonty Colman rated the Hammers’ players in the first half of their friendly against Cambridge, with a different side expected to feature after the break.
READ MORE: Maxwel Cornet's return and Kurt Zouma latest – What we spotted from West Ham training
Lukasz Fabianski
In a strong senior side, first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski started in goal, having started all 15 Premier League matches so far this term. Was worked on a few occasions and did not do much wrong, will have been disappointed to have conceded although it was not his fault. 6
Ben Johnson
With Thilo Kehrer away on World Cup duty, David Moyes went with Ben Johnson for the first half, with Vladimir Coufal likely to replace him at the interval. Johnson looked to be one of the main threats at corners. Did however get beaten too easily by Rossi for Cambridge's opener. 6
Craig Dawson
Only two centre-backs were available for the game, with Craig Dawson playing alongside Angelo Ogbonna from the off. Perhaps surprised by the amount of defending he did have to do, Dawson looked solid and made a few good interventions, including one to mop up an Ogbonna error. 7
Angelo Ogbonna
Kurt Zouma's knee injury may present minutes to Angelo Ogbonna in the Premier League in the second half of the season, with the Italian not featuring in the Premier League since September. One sloppy backpass led to a Cambridge counter attack, giving them the corner that they scored from. Not much wrong after that, or before, but played a hand in a goal for the wrong reasons. 6
Aaron Cresswell
West Ham's vice-captain Aaron Cresswell kept his regular spot at left-back, with Emerson among the senior players expected to feature more in the second half. Shortly after stretching to clear a Saikou Janneh cross about ten minutes in, Cresswell walked off injured and was replaced by Emerson, not the night he would have hoped for. 5
Conor Coventry
With Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta at the World Cup and Tomas Soucek absent, Conor Coventry was handed a start in the middle of midfield alongside good friend Flynn Downes. Played the deeper of the two midfield roles, with Downes getting forward at times. Looked okay. 6
Flynn Downes
Downes had the surprise role of being the most senior central midfielder in the West Ham squad with Rice, Paqueta and Soucek all missing. Played a big role in Bowen's equaliser with a driving run up through midfield before teeing it up to Bowen, who finished excellently. 7
Jarrod Bowen (Star man)
Jarrod Bowen will have hoped to be in Qatar preparing for England's World Cup quarter-final with France. Instead, he finds himself playing at Cambridge on a cold Tuesday night. Had the first of two good chances in the half when going through on goal after Pablo Fornals' long ball over the top, only to turn a right-footed shot across goal and wide. Made up for it a minute after West Ham conceding when sending one into the top corner from range, despite the stadium announcer claiming it was Downes'. 7
Manuel Lanzini
Manuel Lanzini started in the No.10 role having not got too many minutes in the Premier League this term, with Paqueta and Pablo Fornals among those preferred to him. Tested home goalkeeper Will Mannion from range towards the end of the half, one of a few keen to get on the ball and move it well early on, struggled to unlock his opponents at times though. 6
Pablo Fornals
Before the World Cup break, Pablo Fornals had scored three goals in his last two starts, hoping to cash in on that against League One opposition. A real livewire on the left, dropping deep to play long quarter-back-like passes, as well as getting down his wing and attacking well. 7
Michail Antonio
Gianluca Scamacca dropped down to the bench, giving Michail Antonio a start up front. Cambridge's backline largely did well to keep him quiet, with his presence perhaps being the only time he caused any issues. 5
Substitutes
Emerson
Emerson was among those likely to come on at the break but found himself bought on after 15 minutes in place of Cresswell. Attacked well and his cross was inadvertently turned in by Simper to give West Ham the lead on the stroke of half-time. 7
READ NEXT:
West Ham teenagers continue stunning record after adding Tottenham to Arsenal and Chelsea scalps
Five things West Ham will be hoping to get right during Cambridge, Udinese and Fulham friendlies
The former Roma defender who dreams of Premier League football and eyes West Ham or Chelsea
Stuart Pearce defends West Ham's Declan Rice after Champions League transfer comments
West Ham announce details of December friendly against Serie A side ahead of Arsenal clash
