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Football London

Sport

Jonty Colman

West Ham player ratings: Lucas Paqueta stars in Hammers' Fulham win after VAR controversy

Lucas Paqueta West Ham Fulham Gianluca Scamacca Bernd Leno David Moyes Hammers Declan Rice Andreas Pereira Aaron Cresswell

West Ham United earned back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time this season with a 3-1 victory over Fulham.

Andreas Pereira gave Fulham an early lead, only to be cancelled out by Jarrod Bowen's penalty in the first half. Gianluca Scamacca then made it 2-1 in the second half, following a VAR check for offside and handball, but got the better of both counts. Michail Antonio came off the bench to add a third in the closing stages.

Here is how football.london ’s West Ham United writer Jonty Colman rated the Hammers’ players against the Cottagers.

Lukasz Fabianski

Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was back in goal following a midweek rest during the Europa Conference League win in Anderlecht. After a clean sheet in last weekend's win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fabianski was beaten far too easily on his near side as Pereira shot across him to go 1-0 up. Forced to bat away some set-pieces as Fulham tempted their luck from range in the first half. Did not have much to do after the break. 6

Thilo Kehrer

German defender Thilo Kehrer was back in the starting 11 after a midweek rest, one of five members in the starting line-up to not play in Belgium. Back-to-back starts at right-back show that his spot appears to be secure over Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson. However, the move for the goal happened down his side and he was forced to track back, but never got anywhere near the move. Neeskens Kebano and Pereira got down his side too easily early on. Better towards the end of the half and after half-time when pressing high, came close to scoring before teeing up a chance to Bowen that was blocked. Won a few big tackles, but was booked late on. 6

Craig Dawson

Craig Dawson has had a busy week with it being his third start in eight days, playing the duration of the win over Anderlecht. Not often does Dawson win penalties, but after being shoved a couple of times at a corner by Pereira, won a spot-kick when being blocked by him. A slight injury scare came when he went down injured towards the first half, but he got back up and soldiered on. A solid second half display to limit Fulham going forward, continuing to impress since his return. 7

Kurt Zouma

French centre-back Kurt Zouma was among those recalled following the rotated side fielded in midweek. When defending one vs one against Pereira for the first goal, he showed him outside, but it was still not enough to stop the former Manchester United midfielder from giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. Really good in the second half, got in the way of everything, although Fulham did not too much to trouble the Hammers. 6

Aaron Cresswell

Also given a rest in midweek was Aaron Cresswell, back in at left-back as West Ham switched from 5-2-2-1 back to 4-2-3-1. With Pablo Fornals oftern dropping in a central role during attacks, Cresswell got forward well and while his first attempt of a cross to Gianluca Scamacca missed him by miles, the second picked him out superbly and only a Bernd Leno save prevented a goal. Teed up Lucas Paqueta seconds after the restart, whose cute effort from the edge of the box was saved well by Leno, before crossing again for Scamacca, header, which he turned wide. One of his best performances of the season so far, helped by Fornals' off the ball work, making a crucial block at 2-1 to deny Tom Cairney. 7

Declan Rice

Although he did not start in Belgium, captain Declan Rice was recalled to the 11 after coming off the bench to inspire the late winner in Brussels. Starting next to Tomas Soucek, Rice was permitted to get forward and add real tempo to join in with the forward four and made plenty of attacking runs in possession, as well as getting back to win a few big tackles when Fulham did break forward. 7

Tomas Soucek

Czech Republic international Tomas Soucek was also rested, back in midfield with Rice, having scored a late winner last time the Hammers hosted Fulham two seasons ago. Defensively, really good, helped to set a base sitting in midfield to allow Rice to be the more progressive of the two. Won his battles and was just a good sounding board for those in front of him to feed off. 7

Jarrod Bowen

Jarrod Bowen appears to be getting back to his best, scoring and starring against Wolverhampton Wanderers eight days ago, as well also impressing in Belgium in midweek. Not necessarily his fault, but went down injured as Fulham broke down his side in the move that saw Pereira open the scoring. Made it two from two in the league almost 30 minutes later when converting from 12 yards, sending ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno the wrong way in the process. Remained an outlet and kept hold of the ball really well in the second half, could have added West Ham's third late on but Michail Antonio was unable to pick him out. 7

Lucas Paqueta (Star man)

From the bench on Thursday, Lucas Paqueta created Gianluca Scamacca's late winner in the Group B clash. A partnership seems to be forming between Paqueta and Scamacca, with the Brazilian creating two chances for the Italian prior to Bowen's goal, one forcing Leno to save, and another going just wide. Prior to the game in the league, Paqueta had still been short of chance creation and making those line-splitting passes, but seems to be doing more of that now. Close to a goal of his own early in the second half, forcing Leno into an awkward stop shortly after the break. Then got a deserved assist, carbon copy of the move in Anderlecht, turning and dinking over the top for Scamacca to finish, given after a long VAR check. 8

Pablo Fornals

With Maxwel Cornet still out with a calf issue, Spaniard Pablo Fornals won his spot back on the left side of the attacking three behind Gianluca Scamacca up front. Grafted well and in the first half, tracked back excellently before making a last ditch tackle to deny Harrison Reed from shooting. Linked up really well with Rice and Paqueta in the second half, made the right moves to allow Cresswell to overlap and cross into the box. Came close to a goal when building up a move down the left, with Paqueta denied from it. Played in Antonio for the third goal late on. 8

Gianluca Scamacca

Italian striker Scamacca is clearly Moyes' main man up front right now, scoring four in five games in Europe and on five for the season in all competitions. Went close to scoring four times before he actually did make it 2-1. In the first half, he was found twice by Paqueta, heading one at Leno before shooting across goal and wide. He then headed on goal again off a Cresswell cross forcing another stop out of Leno. An early header in the second half showed his continued intent, scoring after Paqueta again played him through, before he controlled and chipped it over Leno. Controversey in the sense of first being check for offside and the a handball the goal was given, with both calls going in his favour. A very good week for the Italian, who now has six for the season across all formats. Battled relentlessly up front, really good with his hold up play. Quickly becoming a fan favourite. 8

Substitutes

Michail Antonio

The Jamaican international striker replaced Scamacca up front for the final ten minutes of the tie. Added a third when played in on goal, his shot was saved but remained calm, had fortune when Leno and Tim Ream crashed into each other before finishing off. 7

Emerson

The Italian international was introudced with just over five minutes remaining, in place of Paqueta. N/A