With West Ham United securing an away win and a clean sheet at RSC Anderlecht to go five points clear at the top of UEFA Europa Conference League Group B, it was ‘happy days’ for Flynn Downes.
The midfielder marked his second start for his boyhood club with an impressive performance in Belgium, where his incisive, accurate passing, pressing and ability to repeatedly win possession all caught the eye.
The 23-year-old could even have marked the occasion with his first goal in a West Ham shirt, but his left-foot half-volley lacked the accuracy of Gianluca Scamacca’s second-half match-winner, which nestled in the bottom corner to secure a hard-earned three points for the east Londoners.
“It was some game, it was a tough 90 minutes,” Downes told BT Sport. “I think the boys were unbelievable and we did what we set out to do – we nicked a goal at the end, defended well and it’s three points, so happy days!
“Oh yeah, [talking of my shot] I had a nosebleed up there! Do you know what? I was surprised to find myself so far forward, especially on my left swinger as well! I wish it had been on my right, but hey ho, I’ll go back to training and work on that and hopefully I can nick a goal soon!”
While West Ham controlled proceedings for the most part in Brussels, the visitors were indebted to goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on at least two occasions, most notably when the Frenchman thrust out a right hand to miraculously keep out Fabio Silva’s powerful close-range header.
“It’s unbelievable from him!” Downes observed. “Every player put in a shift. I think the boys who came on changed the game for us. We obviously got the goal and then for Alphonse to keep us in it at the end was unbelievable, so all credit to him.”
Like Areola, the former Ipswich Town and Swansea City player has had to show patience, with Premier League minutes at a premium, but both players most certainly made the most of this opportunity to play and impress manager David Moyes.
And the No12 revealed he is relishing every chance he gets to play alongside the Club’s senior international midfield stars – Declan Rice, Manuel Lanzini, Lucas Paquetá and Tomáš Souček.
“I love it!” Downes smiled. “It obviously hasn’t been the start that I wanted as I haven’t played too much, but it is what it is, and the competition is tough. I’ve just been keeping my head down, working hard and waiting for opportunities like that.
“To be fair, playing alongside Dec is unbelievable, and Manu as well and all the boys in the middle. It’s a joy. They’re all such good players, so I learn a lot from them, and it’s a privilege, really.”
Having played so well in Brussels, Downes is now hoping to get another start when Anderlecht visit London Stadium next week, when another win will all but secure top spot and direct passage to the round of 16 in the New Year.
“It’ll be a tough game,” he concluded. “I think they are the hardest test in the group for us so it’ll be a tough one, but I think at home we’ll look to dominate, get the win and hopefully get a few more goals.”
