West Ham United survived a narrow scare in their Europa Conference League play-off qualifying round, first leg tie against Danish side Viborg to seal a 3-1 win at the London Stadium.
Gianluca Scamacca and Jarrod Bowen had given David Moyes' side a 2-0 lead with goals either side of half-time before Jacob Bonde gave the visitore hope when heading home minutes after Bowen's long-range strike. Substitute Michail Antonio added a third to ease the hosts' nerves and give David Moyes' side a two-goal cushion going into next week's second leg.
Here is how Football.London’s West Ham United writer Jonty Colman rated the Hammers’ players against their Danish opponents.
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Alphonse Areola
Alphonse Areola made what was his official full debut since re-signing for the club permanently earlier in the summer from Paris Saint-Germain. Much of Viborg's chances in the tie were from distance but Areola matched them with a few good saves. Did well to get low and meet Justin Lonwijk's chance, Viborg's best of the game before Bonde's goal, which he could have done little about and was a harsh one for him to concede. 7
Harrison Ashby
Current absences at the back and the suspension to Aaron Cresswell allowed a game for Harrison Ashby at right-back. Quiet as the game started, and perhaps rushed some his passes, but he improved as the half went on, trying to combine with Jarrod Bowen in front of him. Showed more intent to get forward, proved then picking up scraps off an overhit Maxwel Cornet cross to shoot from distance and force a save out of Lucas Lund. Pressed high in the second half and improved on a quiet first half showing. 6
Ben Johnson
The arrival of Thilo Kehrer could mean that this may be an end to Ben Johnson's run as a makeshift centre-back. However, after mixed showings in previous outings against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, he was much more composed against Viborg, putting himself in the way at blocks and clearances at a consistent rate. Very solid and did not do an awful lot wrong, the best of the back four. 6
Angelo Ogbonna
After an absence of over nine months through injury, Angelo Ogbonna returned to the starting side and captained a rotated 11, coming back to help ease the club's centre-back issues and allow Kurt Zouma to rest. Twice in quick succession in the first half, he fouled Jay-Roy Grot as the former Leeds United man got the better of him. A fairly composed return barring a bit of trouble marking Grot, replaced midway through the second half to allow a debut for Kehrer. 6
Vladimir Coufal
The absence of Cresswell through suspension saw a shift around the backline, with Vladimir Coufal playing at left-back in a makeshift role. While he did have to cut back onto his right foot, proving to be awkward at times, he showed plenty of attacking intent throughout the game and the Hammers looked much better attacking down their left side than they did on the right. Again, he attacked well but was the man who lost Bonde for Viborg's goal. Had been the best in defence prior to that. 6
Conor Coventry
With Declan Rice suspended and Flynn Downes currently having a minor concern over a toe issue, Conor Coventry was thrown in from the off and started in the centre of midfield next to Tomas Soucek. Viborg tried to add tempo in midfield as much as they could and it gave plenty for Coventry to deal with, Viborg getting joy countering the Hammers at times. Better after the break, seemed to be given more freedom, allowing him to better express a range of passing. Taken off late on. 6
Tomas Soucek
Czech Republic international Tomas Soucek was really good in the heart of midfield at getting the dirty work done, often recycling possession for the hosts allowing them to get the ball back and attack quickly. Had half a chance to score when heading a Coufal cross on target. Really solid defensively, needed in Rice's absence. 7
Jarrod Bowen
In the early stages, Bowen had looked good at creating attacks and looked keen to link up with Scamacca, attempting a cheeky chip from distance that almost caught Lund off guard. Quiet for a spell after that but did get his first goal of the season brilliantly shortly after that, firing into the bottom corner after latching onto a deflected pass from Soucek. A rifled finish from distance, back at his best with that strike. Taken off shortly after. 7
Manuel Lanzini
Manuel Lanzini was back in the starting side, having lost his place in the 11 at Sunday against Nottingham Forest to Pablo Fornals. However, his outing lasted just 45 minutes after being replaced by Fornals once again at the interval. It was a mixed 45 minutes from Lanzini. While he was good when the hosts had possession and taking the ball and running at Viborg before laying it off, some of his more simpler passes were wayward and on one occasion, led to Viborg getting a shot off. Pressed well, but yet to hit his best so far this term. 6
Maxwel Cornet (Star man)
There was a first start for the Hammers for Ivorian winger Maxwel Cornet who had a major say on the first goal, chopping twice past his marker before delivering a superb cross for Scamacca to do the rest with. Had spells on and off it, really good in possession and caused problems. After his assist, he almost marked his first start with a wonderful overhead kick that was blocked. Good in possession, caught offside a bit too often, but his assist and other moments of skill will have left a good impression. 7
Gianluca Scamacca
Since his £30.5million arrival from Sassuolo in the summer, Italian striker Scamacca has had to wait his chance for a full debut, not helped by playing internationals in June and having no pre-season after that. He marked his first start in claret and blue with a first goal midway through the first half, helping himself to an excellent cross from Cornet with a header that matched. Almost doubled his tally moments later with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area that forced Lucas Lund to parry. A quieter second half, but still a great night for him, the kind of finish he was bought to the club to do over and over. 7
Substitutes
Pablo Fornals
Replacing Lanzini at the break, Fornals had started the second half okay, but got quieter as the half progressed. Lanzini's lack of game time does seem to put Fornals ahead of him in the No.10 role, especially with Said Benrahma and Cornet as options on the left. 5
Thilo Kehrer
There was a debut for German centre-back Kehrer from the bench, although Viborg got their goal shortly after his arrival, not via his fault though. Made one or two really good tackles and looked a good composer. Likely to feature from the off against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday. 6
Michail Antonio
In danger of losing a starting spot as the season goes on, Antonio did not do too much when coming on, but his goal will mean a lot in this tie. A proper poacher's finish to double the Hammers' advantage in this tie, a needed boost ahead of next week and for his own form. 7
Said Benrahma
Having started at Forest on Sunday, Benrahma showed such quality to fly down the line and do all of the work for Antonio to poke home. Excellent quality from him off the back of probably a deserved goal at the City Ground on Sunday. 7
Flynn Downes
A European debut came the way of Flynn Downes with six minutes remaining. Could well have started, had it not been for a minor toe injury that kept him out of training on Wednesday. N/A
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