Aaron Cresswell has been praised by football.london journalist Jonty Colman following his performance in West Ham’s second Europa Conference League group-stage tie.
Cresswell returned to action having sat out each of the last two games at Chelsea and at home to FCSB with an injury, but manager David Moyes had confirmed that he was approaching full fitness once more.
90 minutes last night against Silkeborg will certainly have been encouraging for his manager and the level of performance would have been particularly pleasing for Moyes.
The defender was awarded a 7/10 match rating for his showing by football.london’s Jonty Colman, as the Hammers came from a goal down early on to lead 3-1 at the break and secured a 3-2 victory in Demark to sit top of Group B.
Colman made the following comments: ‘Also back in the side was Aaron Cresswell after missing the last two games with a groin issue, starting on the left of the centre-back trio, a more narrow role than he is used to.
‘Impressed defensively and often cleared when required.
‘Made a big impact going forward and his excellent corner was the source of the Hammers’ third goal.
‘Less shaky looking in defence than he had been at times this season. Booked late on.’
Despite being in a back three, Cresswell led the team for touches (95) and passes as well as boasting a 95% completion rate, playing two key passes and creating one big chance (SofaScore).
After a nightmare ending to his own personal European campaign last season which saw the 32-year-old red carded in the Europa League semi-final second-leg defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, it will have been reassuring to see him putting on a much-improved showing.
