In a season that has been marked by inconsistent performances and frustrating results, West Ham United’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Monday evening was a welcome respite for the Hammers faithful. And while the win was a team effort, one player stood out above the rest – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who proved himself to be the matchwinner on this occasion.
“I’m delighted for him,” said West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui. “He’s a top player, and he’s been working hard to get to this level. He’s always been a key player for us, but tonight he took it to another level.”
Wan-Bissaka scored his first goal for the club with a stunning finish in the second half. The goal, which came after a pinpoint pass from Jarrod Bowen, was a highlight of the match, and it capped off a superb all-around display from the right-back.
“I thought he was outstanding tonight,” said Lopetegui. “He defended well, he supported the attack, and he got his reward with a goal. He’s a top player, and we’re lucky to have him.”
Wan-Bissaka’s performance was not limited to his goal, however. He also produced a solid defensive display, making several important interceptions and tackles to help West Ham secure a clean sheet.
“Defensively, he was solid as a rock,” said West Ham defender Max Kilman. “He’s always been a top defender, but tonight he took it to another level. He’s a key player for us, and we’re lucky to have him.”
Wan-Bissaka’s display earned him a 9/10 rating from our reporter, with the only criticism being that he perhaps could have offered more support to his teammates in attack.
“Overall, it was a superb display from Wan-Bissaka,” said our reporter. “He defended well, he supported the attack, and he got his reward with a goal. He’s a top player, and West Ham are lucky to have him.”
As for Wan-Bissaka himself, he was typically modest when asked about his performance.
“I’m just happy to have helped the team get the win,” he said. “It was a great team effort, and I’m just proud to have been a part of it.”
Here are the player ratings for West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle:
Lukasz Fabianski – 7
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 9
Max Kilman – 8
Jean-Clair Todibo – 4
Emerson – 7
Tomas Soucek – 6
Lucas Paqueta – 8
Jarrod Bowen – 8
Carlos Soler – 7
Crysencio Summerville – 6
Michail Antonio – 7
Substitutes:
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 5
Vladimir Coufal – 6
Danny Ings – 5
Guido Rodriguez – 5
Andy Irving – 5
