West Ham Player Grades: Hammers move to safety, Hornets fall asleep

West Ham needed to come into today’s match and walk out with all 3 points. They did just that, and the player grades that followed spell it all out.

The first 10 minutes of the match defined how the first half went. Between Antonio, Rice, and Soucek, West Ham started fast and never looked back in the first 45 minutes. An early scare made everyone uneasy, but the Hammers kept to it and earned all 3 points.

West Ham Player Grades from 0 to 10

Fabianski

Player Grade: 7

Lukasz Fabianski started with a few business-like saves and was left to his own devices at the start of the second half, giving up his clean sheet. Another solid match from Fabs helped secure the win.

Johnson

Player Grade: 6

After not being seen for the majority of the season, Ben Johnson started well even with a few apparent nerves showing. His nerves or lack of skill came into play early in the second half as he was the start of the Watford goal.

Diop

Player Grade: 6

Diop has been a wall from the start helping Fabs in every way possible. Just minutes into the second half, and he’s getting caught out of position. After his mistake, Issa Diop pulled it back together.

Ogbonna

Player Grade: 7

Angello Ogbonna risked it all on a serious challenge but won the battle and has been solid from the start, including half a dozen blocks. He and everyone else got caught early in the second, but he finished the rest of the half on top.

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Cresswell

Player Grade: 5

Cressy is getting the start again and is already being exposed. Aaron Cresswell played hard, but that was about all you could say. Unfortunately for him, he just doesn’t have the legs anymore.

Rice

Player Grade: 8

It’s becoming week after week normality to see Declan Rice controlling the midfield with ease, and scoring a rocket only helps move the club towards safety. A professional second half for Rice was just doing what was needed.

Soucek

Player Grade: 8

Tomas Soucek wasn’t feeling a slow start, and that was clear after he powered a header home just after the 10-minute mark. A jack of all trades for the entire match, as he even nutmegged a player late into the game.

Noble

Player Grade: 6

Mr. West Ham earned his 500th start as a Hammer and was steady from the start. Mark Noble stayed strong into the second, trying to calm the ship.

Fornals subbed off in the 72nd minute

Player Grade: 7

He started out looking good down the left-hand side and setup Antonio well. Pablo Fornals was even helping out early on defence, shading back to help Cresswell. He came back to reality in the second half, causing him to have an early exit.

Haller subbed on for Fornals

Subbed Grade: 6

Right out of the gate, Sebastian Haller almost drifted into a miraculous goal. A silly foul in stoppage time drug it out a bit, but nothing else to report for him.

Bowen subbed off in the 80th minute

West Ham United’s Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek (L) celebrates with West Ham United’s English striker Jarrod Bowen (R) after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Watford at The London Stadium, in east London on July 17, 2020. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Player Grade: 7

All over the place early, you can’t doubt his motor or his crossing abilities. Jarrod Bowen kept his pace and heart well into the second half, making up a lot of the difference between his team staying safe or falling apart.

Yarmolenko subbed on for Bowen

Subbed Grade: 5

Andriy Yarmolenko lacked the pace down the right side, but he played his game and kept them honest.

Antonio subbed off in the 93rd minute

Player Grade: 7

Michail Antonio started the first 10 minutes on fire once more, adding another goal making it 5 in 2 matches. He went somewhat quiet after that early goal, but his ball presence turned out today.

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Balbuena subbed on for Antonio

Subbed Grade: 5

Fabian Balbuena came on to help shut down the game, as Moyes looked to keep it secured.

The verdict, West Ham, did precisely what was needed today. The Hammers took it to the Hornets and can now breathe over the next 2 matches. What a match from Antonio and Rice today, and even our giraffe of a Czech (Tomas Soucek) keeps on rolling. A big, big day with plenty to celebrate.

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