---
title: "Opinion: ‘Exceptional’ West Ham star starred in much-needed EPL victory"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2022/02/28/opinion-exceptional-west-ham-star-starred-in-much-needed-epl-victory/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2022-02-28T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-02-28T07:00:00Z"
---

# Opinion: ‘Exceptional’ West Ham star starred in much-needed EPL victory

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2022/02/27/opinion-david-moyes-should-axe-struggling-tomas-soucek-for-epl-clash/) central defender [Kurt Zouma](https://readwestham.com/2022/02/11/virals-west-ham-players-furious-following-kurt-zouma-fine/) has endured a spell of self-inflicted controversy in recent weeks but a star performance against Wolves could be just the tonic.

The 27-year-old put all of the issues to one side and was at the heart of a [hard-fought victory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M97yjCZCOhA) for the Hammers as David Moyes’ side maintained their hopes of achieving a top-four finish.

It was another previously struggling star in the shape of Tomas Soucek who scored the only goal of the game as the Czech Republic ace banished a recent spell of indifferent form with an [important strike](https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1497969799682482176) shortly before the hour mark.

> "My grandpa came for the first time and he supported me from my childhood" ❤️
>
> Look at the joy on Tomáš Souček's face that his 'grandpa' saw him score the winner 😊 [pic.twitter.com/yA7gRvoxYc](https://t.co/yA7gRvoxYc)
>
> — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) [February 27, 2022](https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1497969799682482176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Having kept a first clean sheet in two matches, after the match, Moyes was [full of praise](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/west-ham-press-conference-live-23231395) for Zouma in particular.

> I thought Kurt was exceptional today. Strong, commanding, he had a couple of incredible blocks late in the game when we needed him. He was powerful in the air and aggressive at times. He won a great race on a one v one situation in the first half. I thought Kurt played well.

The Frenchman earned an [8.20 Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/kurt-zouma/139227) for a display containing a 3/3 aerial duel record, a 2/2 ground duel record and 10 clearances.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Given the [recent controversy](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/02/11/david-moyes-insists-kurt-zouma-remains-available-west-ham-selection/#:~:text=Zouma%20sparked%20outrage%20on%20Tuesday,beat%20Watford%20later%20that%20day.), it might be safe to say Zouma needed that.

Solely focusing on this performance, the [£28.8million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kurt-zouma/marktwertverlauf/spieler/157509) defender was outstanding and was determined to maintain to keep Wolves out at all costs.

Here’s how we rated the rest, including match-winner Soucek…

**XI**: Lukasz Fabianski 6; Ben Johnson 7, Craig Dawson 6, Kurt Zouma 9, Aaron Cresswell 7; Tomas Soucek 7, Declan Rice 8; Jarrod Bowen 6, Pablo Fornals 7, Manuel Lanzini 7, Michail Antonio 7.

**Subs**: Nikola Vlasic NA, Issa Diop NA.