Evening Standard
·30 November 2023
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·30 November 2023
West Ham left it late to down Backa Topola
AFP via Getty Images
Substitute Maxwel Cornet, not given a start despite David Moyes' heavy rotation of his line-up in Serbia, came off the bench to deliver the cross for Tomas Soucek to net at the death.
The 1-0 win sends West Ham into the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
Here's how West Ham rated in Serbia...
Lukasz Fabianski 6
Made a bit of a meal of one early stop but sharp to deny Milos Milanovic.
Ben Johnson 4
Handed only his second start of the campaign. Made an important early block on Nemanja Petrovic but looked, unsurprisingly, short of sharpness.
Konstantinos Mavropanos 5
Some good anticipation but passing remains a concern. Couldn't quite get to a James Ward-Prowse free-kick late on.
Nayef Aguerd 6
A solid enough display and tried to pass through the lines.
Aaron Cresswell 4
Got away with dreadful square pass that gifted Serbians their best opening of first-half.
James Ward-Prowse 6
Free-kick created best chance of the first-half but Soucek couldn't hit target.
Tomas Soucek 6
You'd have expected him to do better with header just before the break but continued his fine scoring form with a vital late goal.
Pablo Fornals 5
A victim of his own versatility, Spaniard played off the right but struggled to get involved. Booked.
Lucas Paqueta 6
Always likeliest to create a chance from open play.
Said Benrahma 4
His 150th West Ham appearance was one to forget as he regularly squandered decent positions.
Divin Mubama 5
Handed only his second senior start after impressive cameo at Burnley but short on service here.
Substitutes
Maxwel Cornet (Benrahma 67') 6
Superb delivery created Soucek winner.
Danny Ings (Mubama 67') 5
Biggest contribution was conceding a free-kick off the ball that brought an end to a promising attack.
Thilo Kehrer (Johnson 79') N/A
Emerson (Cresswell 79') N/A
Booked.