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Football London
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Jonty Colman

West Ham player ratings: Benrahma and Bowen goals seal Anderlecht win and Europe progression

West Ham United book their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa Conference League on Thursday night with a 2-1 win over Belgian side Anderlecht at the London Stadium.

Said Benrahma opened the scoring with a free-kick before Jarrod Bowen added a second before half-time, making him the club's joint-top scorer in European history to book their place in next year's knockout rounds. They will have to pick up a point from either of their final two games in Group B to seal top spot.

Sebastiano Esposito scored a late penalty as Anderlecht pulled a goal back late on in a game that was marred by crowd trouble from both sets of supporters.

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

READ MORE: David Moyes hints at new role for West Ham's Manuel Lanzini and lays down goalscoring challenge

Alphonse Areola

French goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was making his sixth start of the season that have all come in this competition, exactly a week after his heroics during the Hammers' 1-0 win in Brussels with a late stop to deny Fabio Silva's header. Anderlecht had a few half chances before the break, with Areola doing well to hold onto one and tip another wide from Esposito. Quiet in the second half but saw Esposito get the better of him from the penalty spot. 6

Vladimir Coufal

Vladimir Coufal was again used as a right wing-back having featured in that role and as part of the move for Gianluca Scamacca's winner in the reverse meeting between the two sides. Attacked well and made plenty of good runs but his end product did lack. Should have got an assist early on the second half, but waited to late to pick out Bowen. 6

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson started as a right centre-back in the centre-back trio, somewhere he impressed in on his return from injury in Belgium. A quiet first half but his positioning and calmness was more improved after the break. Found himself giving away a penalty, perhaps harshly late on when it appeared as if he won the ball when challenging Esposito, instead giving away a spot-kick that gave the visitors late hope. 6

Angelo Ogbonna

There was a role change for Angelo Ogbonna, who captained the Hammers last week, moving from the left of the centre-back trio and giving the armband to Aaron Cresswell. Did not do a lot wrong but found himself forced off midway through the first half through injury, replaced by Craig Dawson. 6

Aaron Cresswell

The club's vice-captain led the side against Anderlecht, starting as a left centre-back. One of only three players to have started from Sunday's win over Fulham. Aaron Cresswell was excellent playing as an incredibly attack-minded centre-back, left frustrated when making an interception and a 70-yard lungbusting run early on, only for Paqueta to not pick him out with the pass. Created a golden chance for Bowen to make it 3-0 before the break, only for Bowen to miss with a rare air shot. Taken off in the second half on the hour mark and West Ham seemed to struggle more when he was off the pitch. 7

Emerson

The Italian international wing-back has not played all that often so far this season, but the majority of his minutes have come in Europe, starting as a wing-back on the left side. Was able to attack much more than he was able to do so a week ago in Belgium. Got forward brilliantly to tee up Bowen for the goal to make it 2-0 and West Ham got plenty of joy down their left side for large parts of the game. Played the final portion as a left centre-back, but it was one of his better performances so far. 7

Flynn Downes

Flynn Downes was the best player on the pitch when these two sides met a week ago, with he re-igniting his midfield partnership with Manuel Lanzini from the start. Really good in midfield once again in Europe, bossed the first half with excellent passing, tackling and just keeping everything ticking over in the centre of the park. Inadvertently collided with Dawson in the second half, leading to Dawson going off injured. Another performance to make Moyes think. 6

Manuel Lanzini

Speaking ahead of the game, Moyes said that Lanzini is seen more of a central midfielder now than a No.10, with the Scottish boss calling on him to add more goals and assists to his game. A quiet first half but saw more of the ball after the break, involved in a move to create a chance for Fornals. Still seems behind Downes in the hopes to earn a start in the Premier League. 6

Jarrod Bowen (Star man)

Since the international break, Jarrod Bowen is the only player to have started all four games across the Premier League and Europa Conference League. He has come back from that break a man completely rejuvenated and had no problem finding the net when teed up by Emerson just before half hour mark, taking two touches to set himself. Generally looked bright but was spared with 30 minutes to go, as Moyes shuffled the pack. 7

Lucas Paqueta

With Gianluca Scamacca rested and Michail Antonio missing with an illness, Brazilian Lucas Paqueta started in a striker's role, having played as a false nine previously for Brazil. Showed some good trickery and intent to get forward with the ball, playing largely as a sitting striker, although he floated wide from time to time. Did really well to keep the ball in a tight position to tee up Benrahma, who won the free-kick before scoring it early on. Booked towards the end of the half for a foul on Amadou Diawara, with there being some needle between the two from West Ham's win last week. Taken off at the break, with Moyes choosing to spare him for Southampton on Sunday. 7

Said Benrahma

There was a shot at redemption for Benrahma after missing a golden chance last week in Belgium, starting on the left of Paqueta. It took the Algerian just 14 minutes to make up for last week's sitter, converting brilliantly from a free-kick which he won himself on the edge of the box, with clever trickery to get from Diawara after excellent work from Paqueta. Linked up well with Cresswell and Emerson down his side and created a good chance for Pablo Fornals after the break, with the Spaniard seeing his shot blocked. A good 90 minutes after being below par a week ago. Just needs consistency now. 7

Substitutes

Craig Dawson

A planned rest for Craig Dawson lasted just over 20 minutes when he saw defensive colleague Ogbonna forced off injured. Did solid defensively and hardly put a foot wrong, finding himself in the right position often to cut out any Anderlecht breaks. A nervous moment came with around 20 minutes to go when he and Downes collided into each other, with Dawson going off a few minutes after coming on. A concern, given his recent form. 7

Pablo Fornals

The Spaniard came on at half-time in place of Paqueta as part of a very fluid front three. Starting as a pressing forward, Fornals came close to his second goal of the season, but saw his shot at the end of good move early on after the break, but saw his effort blocked. Pressed well and created a good chance for Scamacca with just over ten minutes remaining. Played the final 15 as a left wing-back due to Dawson's injury. 6

Declan Rice

Captain Declan Rice came on alongside Scamacca, replacing Cresswell in a move that saw Rice play on the left side of a centre-back trio. Having almost been booked seconds after coming on for kicking the ball away, Rice was soon moved to the middle centre-back when Dawson went off injured. 5

Gianluca Scamacca

Spared from the starting 11 given his recent scoring run, Italian international Scamacca was thrown on with just under 30 minutes remaining, coming on for goalscorer Bowen. After goals in his previous three appearances, he did not get too many chances to add to that. He did meet one cross at the back post from Fornals, after cleverly finding him with a long pass, but it bounced awkwardly and he could only turn the ball over. 5

Tomas Soucek

Bought on with 15 minutes to spare in place of fellow substitute Dawson, joining Downes and Lanzini in a midfield trio. 5

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