Yahoo Finance West Ham player ratings vs Genk: Aaron Cresswell and Jarrod Bowen lead Hammers to commanding win
West Ham are within touching distance of the Europa League knockout stages after making it three wins from three with victory over Genk.
Craig Dawson’s goal ended a slow first half on a high before goals from Issa Diop and Jarrod Bowen put the game to bed in a flash soon after the break.
Bowen should have had the Hammers ahead from close range after Ben Johnson, played in by a smart Manuel Lanzini ball, crossed low for the forward who could only muster an airshot.
West Ham had a lucky escape when towering Genk striker, Paul Onuachu headed narrowly wide from a corner after Alphonse Areola had raced out and mistimed his punch.
The Hammers looked to be heading in at the break frustrated before Dawson delivered in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Dawson has proved quite the threat at set pieces since joining from Watford and provided the goods here again, finding the back of the net with a looping effort off his shoulder from Aaron Cresswell’s corner.
If West Ham were stagnant in the first half, they sparked into life in the second. Before the hour mark they had stretched the lead to three.
Cresswell provided another fine delivery, this time from a free-kick, for Diop to head in off the underside of the bar before Bowen made up for his lacklustre finishing in the first half with a fine driving run before firing at goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt, who was powerless to stop it hitting the back of the net.
Here is how Jack Rosser rated West Ham...
Alphonse Areola 6
Got lucky on a couple of occasions in the first half but yet to concede a goal in a West Ham shirt.
Ben Johnson 7
Solid at the back and confident on the ball going forward with some impressive crosses. Likely above Ryan Fredericks in the pecking order now.
Craig Dawson 7
Continued to provide a real threat at set pieces and eventually got the better of Onuachu.
Issa Diop 7
Largely untroubled at the back and a wonderful header to bag his first goal of the season.
Aaron Cresswell 8
Superb performance. A real threat from open play in the first half and two fine assists from set pieces either side of the break.
Declan Rice 7
Neat and tidy performance in midfield. May have wanted to do more going forward but controlled the game.
Tomas Soucek 6
Looking sharper now than before the international break. Controlled midfield well with Rice.
Andriy Yarmolenko 5
Largely ineffective on the ball. When cutting in from the right isn’t working, there’s not much else going for him.
Manuel Lanzini 6
Some sharp forward balls in the first half that teammates should have done more with.
Nikola Vlasic 6
Got into promising positions and showed willing but the end product is still an issue.
Jarrod Bowen 7
Tirelessly ran between the centre-backs and made up for his woeful airshot with a brilliant run and goal to ensure there was no way back for Genk.
Substitutes
Mark Noble 6
Kept things ticking over nicely in midfield after replacing Rice.
Ryan Fredericks 6
Didn’t provide the same threat as Cresswell down the left but good to get minutes after injury.
Said Benrahma n/a
Pablo Fornals n/a
Daniel Chesters n/a
Subs not used: Fabianski, Zouma, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Randolph, Ashby.
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