West Ham United sealed top spot in Group B of the Europa Conference League on Thursday night with a 1-0 victory over Silkeborg.
Manuel Lanzini's first half penalty was the difference as the Hammers now go straight into the Round of 16 of the competition in March, winning the group with a game to spare.
Here is how football.london’s West Ham United writer Jonty Colman rated the Hammers’ players against Silkeborg.
READ MORE: West Ham receive Nayef Aguerd boost but fresh concern ahead of Silkeborg and Man United clashes
Alphonse Areola
French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is one of only four players who has started in all five group matches so far this term and had kept only one clean sheet in those ahead of kick-off. Looked pretty safe of doubling that total after only being forced into saving one long shot from Sebastian Jorgensen in the first half. Silkeborg threatened on a few occasions in the second half but Areola matched the efforts well, earning his clean sheet. 7
Vladimir Coufal
Czech Republic international Vladimir Coufal also came back in to the starting XI after a late cameo on Monday that saw him win the penalty scored by Said Benrahma. Attacked well and constantly made himself a good option wide on the right side to get crosses into the box in an advanced role. Quieter in the second half, a case for most of the West Ham side. 6
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson was one of only two players from Monday's 2-0 win over Bournemouth to keep his place in the side, moving from right-back to right of a back three due to the formation change. Solid defensively and was keen at pressing and trying to prevent Silkeborg from seeing too much of the ball in attacking areas. Athough Silkeborg got more second half joy, he remained consistent. 7
Nayef Aguerd
There was a long-awaited debut at centre-back for £30million summer signing Nayef Aguerd, who has spent over three months out of action following an ankle injury suffered in July against Rangers. Did not have much defending to do before half-time, but had good positional awareness organising his back line, making good forward passes and starting a move that led to an early chance for Michail Antonio, as well as seeing a volley at the back post go wide early on. Had more defending to do in the second half but showed good pace, cleared well and really showed a glimpse of why the club spent big money on him. Taken off with 15 to go. 7
Angelo Ogbonna
There was a first appearance in a fortnight for Angelo Ogbonna who was back in the starting side having been injured in West Ham's home win over Anderlecht. With Aguerd central, Ogbonna played higher up and got at Silkeborg's forward players well, like teammate Johnson on the other side. Captained the side in the absence of Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell and put in another solid display, avoiding a booking that would have got him banned for next week's trip to Bucharest. 7
Emerson
Playing as a left wing-back, where almost all of Emerson's West Ham appearances have come, the Italian international was able to really press on and try and get crosses in and link up with the Hammers, forward players, helping to work the ball into the box on several occasions. One of a few who dipped after the break, failing to quite have the impact he will have liked to. 6
Conor Coventry
There was a second start of the season in midfield for Conor Coventry in all competitions, with the midfielder's last appearance coming in this competition against the same opponents in Denmark last month. Looked really good in the centre of the park and formed a good partnership with Lanzini. Won tackles, showed a good range of passing and even came close to a first goal for Hammers, steering wide from the edge of the penalty area. Continued to do well as the game went on, and although he is quite far down the pecking order, Moyes can be pleased with his performance. 7
Manuel Lanzini (Star man)
Argentine midfielder Lanzini got his second goal of the season in the first half after Michail Antonio won a soft penalty, with both goals coming from the spot and both goals coming against Silkeborg. Ran midfield with Coventry well and when in possession, always looked capable of playing the pass that would unlock Silkeborg's back line. Hardly getting a kick in the Premier League at the minute, but pleasing at times recently in the Europa Conference League. 7
Pablo Fornals
Pablo Fornals played in a very fluid front line and did some good things in the first half, setting up a really good chance for Antonio. Quiet after that for much of a first half where West Ham really dominated. In the second, a high interception from him gave him a golden chance to score but somehow, he steered wide, doing little else before being taken off in the need for more firepower. 5
Said Benrahma
A mixed performance from Benrahma, who will have been disappointed to have not taken the penalty after scoring one less than 72 hours earlier. Showed some good stuff with his dribbling early on but his decision making let him down at times, only coming close with a header that he steered wide. 6
Michail Antonio
Antonio did well to win the penalty although it was one that looked soft and he was already going off the pitch as he crashed to the floor, one that may well have been overturned in the Premier League. Barring that, not a great showing but did earlier on in the first half force a good save out of Larsen when latching onto a Fornals through ball. Ruined one attack by turning his back as he was meant to receive a Benrahma pass. 6
Substitutes
Gianluca Scamacca
With West Ham lacking attacking threat, Moyes threw on top scorer Gianluca Scamacca, although he failed to really have a chance. Booked for a trailing elbow, but did hold the ball up wide, with his only effort at a Emerson corner going wide. 5
Flynn Downes
The fact Flynn Downes was rested speaks volumes about his recent rise. Kept the ball well coming on and you would expect he starts at Manchester United given his little involvement. 5
Thilo Kehrer
Played the final 15 minutes in Aguerd's place, hardly put a foot wrong in the middle of defence. 6
Declan Rice
Captain Rice was introduced alongside midfield partner Tomas Soucek with less than 10 minutes to go, not the full rest Moyes would have liked to give him N/A
Tomas Soucek
Also a late runout for Soucek in place of Antonio, moving Downes into an advanced role. Booked late on. N/A
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