Ben Johnson marked his return to the West Ham United team after a month on the sidelines in the best possible way at Anderlecht on Thursday night.
The Hammers secured a 1-0 win in Belgium thanks to Gianluca Scamacca’s 79th minute strike, while Johnson, back from a hamstring injury, helped register a vital clean sheet as his side made it three wins from three in the group stage.
Johnson played alongside Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna in a back three as the Irons ensured they would build on last weekend’s Premier League success over Wolverhampton Wanderers – and now the 22-year-old is itching to kick on in the busiest part of the season.
It was really good to get a full game under my belt.
It’s been four weeks out, so to come back in a winning team again is a great feeling. It was a tough game and we’ve got them again next week, and coming away personally with the 90 minutes and feeling good is fantastic. So, box ticked.
Credit for ‘Phonse for keeping the clean sheet with that save from Fabio Silva near the end.
We had loads of chances to put the game to bed in the first half, but they are a good team and there were openings there for them too.
So we had to work hard for the result and fortunately we got it.
We’re getting there now.
After a slow start the lads are gelling. Some people come in and hit the ground running straight away, but this takes time and the lads are coming in and giving us strength in depth.
They’re coming on and doing what they do, showing some class with it which is good for me to watch when I’m playing in defence! Credit to the boys.
I’m really pleased for Flynn.
I’ve always said to him that he’ll be important for us and he’s put it in with a couple of performances now, in training and in the games he’s played.
He had a terrific game tonight and all credit to him for patience. Hopefully he can come in and show what he can do more.
Scamacca can do no wrong at the minute, even in training!
He’s a great asset to have, with his hold-up play, his trickery, his vision and his finishing, of course.
It’s obviously been tricky for him being ill for quite a while, but he’s getting into form now in the league and in these games, so it’s always good to have both strikers firing – him and Mick are playing extremely well and it breeds great competition. To have both of them is certainly an asset for us going forward.
It’s not done yet but it’s looking good for us in the group.
We want to get it wrapped up as quickly as possible and hopefully we can get another result next Thursday. Then there’s Silkeborg at home and a trip to Romania – obviously we want to finish the group top and avoid those two games in Feburary because we’ve got a hefty period counting down to the World Cup and it’s going to start again in January. So, of course we want to win the group.
West Ham-Fulham is always a good game, whether it’s at our stadium or Craven Cottage.
It will be a tough game on Sunday and it’s a boost to everyone having players to rest and come on and be patient with.
The lads will have a different set-up for Sunday, so to get rest in some of them is the main thing going into Sunday’s game.
