1. Super subs
Head Coaches and managers often speak of needing every member of their matchday squad to be ready to contribute positively when called upon, and that was certainly the case for Graham Potter on Tuesday evening.
While his starting XI all contributed to a valuable 3-2 Premier League victory over Fulham, Potter's four used substitutes also played their part, too.
Danny Ings was first to be sent on, replacing Mohammed Kudus with half-an-hour to play, and the England international forward was pivotal to West Ham’s win, pressing Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno into an error that saw the ball flick Ings’ boot on its way to Lucas Paquetá, who duly scored the hosts’ vital third goal.
Next on was Scotsman Andy Irving, who provided welcome control and composure in the midfield to help keep the ball away from the West Ham net and, at times, spring the home side forward on the attack.
Then, with ten minutes to play, veteran Aaron Cresswell and teenager Ollie Scarles were both introduced to combat the threat being posed by Adama Traoré down Fulham’s right flank.
Scarles made one vital block from fellow 18-year-old Josh King before rushing out to do enough to make Traoré fire over the crossbar from six yards in added time.
2. Pressing needs
After a passive opening 20 or so minutes at London Stadium, a tactical switch saw West Ham United move higher up the pitch, with almost immediate results.
Head Coach Graham Potter revealed that he encouraged both Mohammed Kudus and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to get further forward and put Fulham under pressure by forcing left-back Antonee Robinson and left winger Alex Iwobi to concentrate more on their defensive duties.
While the pair did combine for both Fulham goals, albeit from slightly fortuitous crosses, Potter’s changes put the Hammers on the front foot and ultimately laid the foundations for victory.
With the Irons pressing higher, Edson Álvarez forced Andreas Pereira to pass straight to Carlos Soler, who scored. Two minutes later, Wan-Bissaka got to the byline and provided the assist for Tomás Soucek to net West Ham’s second.
The press also led to the match-clinching third as substitute Danny Ings closed down Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and the ball broke for Lucas Paquetá, who converted to cap a superb all-round performance from the stand-in centre-forward.
3. Pottering around
After producing a promising performance in Friday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round defeat at Aston Villa, Graham Potter’s West Ham United earned their new Head Coach a first win in charge on Tuesday evening.
Potter himself admitted the display ‘wasn’t perfect’, but to expect it to be so after just three training sessions, and with six senior players unavailable due to injury, would be unfair and unrealistic.
At the same time, there were clear indications of how Potter wants his team to play in evidence at London Stadium.
The work-rate and commitment shown by the Hammers were evident from start to finish, while Potter’s call for a high press midway through the first half slowed Fulham and led to two of his team’s three goals.
4. Tireless Paquetá
With three senior centre-forwards injured, Head Coach Graham Potter was forced to improvise when it came to shaping his attack to face Fulham on Tuesday evening.
His solution was to field Lucas Paquetá as a No9, and the Brazil international used all of his many talents to play the role superbly.
Strong, able to shield the ball, challenge in the air and pass and shoot with either foot, Paquetá’s versatile skillset served him superbly.
The 27-year-old pressed the home defence tirelessly, won five free-kicks for his team and put in three tackles, while he also played his part in West Ham’s second and third goals.
For the second, he challenged Joachim Andersen for Maximilian Kilman’s long clearance. The ball dropped to Mohammed Kudus and, via Carlos Soler, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tomás Soucek, ended up in the Fulham net.
For the third, Paquetá himself was in the right place when Danny Ings forced Bernd Leno to clear the ball into his path, and he swept the ball unerringly into the unguarded net.
