Yahoo Sports West Ham player ratings vs Chelsea: Debut delight for James Ward-Prowse in London derby win
West Ham claimed their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory against Chelsea on Sunday.
Debutant James Ward-Prowse got two assists as Nayef Aguerd and Michail Antonio scored before Lucas Paqueta added a late penalty.
Here’s how David Moyes’s side rated at the London Stadium...
Defied terrible penalty record with a crucial save from Fernandez that kept the Hammers level at the break despite Chelsea dominance. Brilliant save in stoppage time to keep out Madueke’s deflected strike.
Early slip almost let Chukwuemeka in. Tenacious as ever, though sloppy on the ball.
Poor clearance from Chilwell cross allowed Chukwuemeka to equalise but decent thereafter.
Nayef Aguerd 5
Opened the scoring with a fine header early on, then covered brilliantly in behind the suspect Emerson. Always walking a tightrope after early booking, though, and got it badly wrong with tackle on Jackson to leave his team down to ten and hanging on.
Emerson 6
A real weak-point in the backline as Sterling ran riot. Booked for a clattering challenge on the winger. Improved once the winger drifted inside, though, and great burst in stoppage time won the penalty.
James Ward-Prowse 8
A debut to delight Moyes. Made the opener with a trademark set-piece delivery, then played a percentages ball in behind to create Antonio strike.
Tomas Soucek 7
Struggled to get near Chelsea midfield in possession but screened made several important blocks and clearances in late rearguard. Let off the hook after needless lunge gave away penalty.
Lucas Paqueta 7
Extremely quiet in the first-half but did hit outside of the post with effort on the stretch. Has been a testing few days amid betting investigation and looked on the edge emotionally at times, but brilliant back heel created penalty, which he then converted to clinch points in stoppage time.
Kept honest by Chilwell’s aggressive positioning on the left and did not really feature as an attacking threat until moved through the middle late on.
Michail Antonio 7
Peripheral in the first-half but excellent in the second, holding ball up to give West Ham outlet they’d lacked. Bullied Colwill to fire home a brilliant goal.
Said Benrahma 6
Probably a bit underused, getting plenty of change out of stand-in right-back Gusto when given the chance.
Substitutes
Angelo Ogbonna (Benrahma 69’) 6
Summoned after Aguerd red card.
Pablo Fornals (Antonio 76’) 6
Brought much-needed energy and a threat on the counter.
Edson Alvarez (Ward-Prowse 81’) N/A
On for a late debut and got stuck in.
Unused: Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Cornet, Ings, Mubama
