Graham Potter faces the media Image: Steve Blowers
Graham Potter faces the media Image: Steve Blowers
West Ham United finished their underwhelming campaign in the ascendancy with a welcome 3-1 win over relegated Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday.
James Ward-Prowse gave the Hammers an interval lead and, although Nathan Broadhead levelled just after the break, man-of-the-match Jarrod Bowen – making his 200th Premier League appearance – quickly restored the visitors’ advantage before substitute Mohammed Kudus confirmed all three points in the dying minutes.
Following victory at Manchester United a fortnight ago, the travelling claret and blue army were in full voice, yet again, on an emotional afternoon that saw departing goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański, second-half substitutes Aaron Cresswell and Vladimír Coufal plus an unused Danny Ings all bid farewell.
Donning the gloves for the 216th and last time, the flying 40-year-old Fabiański was in defiant mood early on, denying Omari Hutchison and Broadhead before the Tractor Boys ploughed themselves into a forlorn furrow of their own making.
With half-time approaching, skipper Sam Morsy’s blundering back pass was intercepted by counterpart Bowen, who invited Ward-Prowse to curl a 15-yarder under the right-hand angle for his first goal of the season.
On 52 minutes, though, Fabiański was finally beaten by Broadhead’s low shot from the edge of the area but having just equalised, Ipswich – with just one, solitary home success all season - soon found themselves trailing again when top scorer Bowen whipped an unstoppable 25-yard shot beyond the diving Christian Walton to claim his 14th goal of the campaign.
“We had to defend at times but overall I felt we were in a good place and full credit to us for recovering from losing the lead,” said Graham Potter after his captain helped to dilute the disappointment of being overlooked by England coach Thomas Tuchel for next month’s internationals by netting for the fourth successive match.
“It was a great goal and Jarrod’s overall performance summed him up as a person.
“Everything we did well came through him and there was a real sharpness to his game. Jarrod’s numbers – both goals (14) and assists (9) - are impressive but football’s all about opinions and the only thing he can do is react positively just like he has done.
“As a team and an attacking unit, though, we certainly have to be better because we can’t keep relying on individuals to dig us out of trouble.”
With Kudus also bending home a 15-yarder on 87 minutes, there was still time for a late cameo from Cresswell, who made his 369th and final outing since signing from Ipswich in July 2014.
“Łukasz made some important saves, while it was nice for Aaron to come on against his old club, too. Alongside Vladimír Coufal, they certainly helped us to end our season on a high,” added Potter after a 14th-place finish that left the Hammers above UEFA Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur and runners-up Manchester United plus Wolves.
“They’re fantastic professionals and the way they’ve each conducted themselves over these past few weeks epitomises their careers.
“Our aim now is to give our fans a better year,” said the head coach looking towards 2025/26 and a first full season in the Hammers hot-seat.
“I’m very proud to be part of West Ham United and our job over these coming weeks and months is to improve and make plans to create a culture and environment that can only make this amazing football club even better.”