What a difference a week makes for West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui and star Mohammed Kudus, as the Hammers hammered Ipswich Town 4-1 on Saturday at the London Stadium.
Kudus scored and joined Jarrod Bowen in starring roles for the win after reports earlier the week claimed the Ghanaian playmaker nearly came to blows with his new manager in Week 6.
The Hammers picked up a solid draw at Brentford last time out and built on it with goals from Kudus, Bowen, Michail Antonio, and Lucas Paqueta on Saturday. West Ham now have eight points from seven games and move within a point of the top half of the Premier League table.
Young forward Liam Delap scored again for Ipswich but the defending was not great. The Tractor Boys still seek a first Premier League win, sitting 17th with four points from four draws through seven matches.
Lift off for Lopetegui? It’s relief, at least
There’s a natural inclination to see this win as more than an expected win at home over a newly-promoted side, and that may be fair. The Irons dominated the proceeding in nearly every area from traditional stats to the advanced numbers. And manager Julen Lopetegui might’ve really needed this, because West Ham go to Spurs and then host Manchester United coming out of the international break. It was a perfect time for a vibes game, and Ipswich certainly paved the path for their visitors.
West Ham vs Ipswich Town player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
West Ham vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
West Ham vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
The international break beckons, and Arsenal will return to visit Bournemouth at 12:30pm ET Saturday October 19. Southampton has a 10am ET kickoff versus Leicester City earlier that day.
How to watch West Ham vs Ipswich live, stream link, start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (October 5)
Venue: London Stadium, London
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live online via NBC.com
West Ham vs Ipswich Town live updates — By Nick Mendola
West Ham vs Ipswich Town final score: 4-1
Michail Antonio 1', Liam Delap 6', Mohammed Kudus 44', Jarrod Bowen 50', Lucas Paqueta 69'
Lucas Paqueta goal! West Ham 4-1 Ipswich Town (69th minute)
Antonio turns provider as his Brazilian teammate gets on the score sheet.
Areola denies Delap!
Delap wants a brace and rises high to head low.
The ball gets to the line but not completely over as Areola gets down quickly to slap the ball away.
65'.
Jarrod Bowen goal — West Ham 3-1 Ipswich Town (50th minute)
Antonio’s press deflects Muric’s clearance bid, and Jarrod Bowen sweeps up the loose ball.
Bowen gets the better of Phillips, then rips a bounding shot past Muric and inside the far post.
Halftime — West Ham 2-1 Ipswich Town
The Irons deserve their lead, as they’ve produced four or five big chances and scored twice.
Arijanet Muric has four saves for the Tractor Boys, who will have to rally after being out-attempted 12-5 in London.
Mohammed Kudus goal! West Ham 2-1 Ipswich (44th minute)
Antonio’s header goes off the bottom of the cross bar but doesn’t cross the line and bounds out toward the six.
It barely gets there before a leaping Mohammed Kudus beats teammate Soucek to the rebound.
Kudus off the post! Soucek cleared off the line!
Michail Antonio settles a half-clearance at the right edge of the 18 and sweeps a beautiful invitation to the back post.
Mohammed Kudus rises highest and nods toward a gaping goal but it dinks off the post!
The Irons are right back at it and Tomas Soucek beats the goalkeeper with a low shot but sees the ball cleared off the line by Dara O’Shea!
1-1, 39'.
Level! Liam Delap! West Ham 1-1 Ipswich Town (6th minute)
Ipswich win a corner, and it’s flicked over a host of players from the front post.
Liam Delap beats Lucas Paqueta to the ball, and turns to fire a bounding hopeful shot near-post past Alphonse Areola.
First-minute goal! West Ham 1-0 Ipswich Town (1st minute)
Kalvin Phillips with a first-minute mistake, as the in-form Ipswich midfielder dips in form against his former team.
Tomas Soucek quickly spots Jarrod Bowen, who races down the right side and crosses for Michail Antonio to finish.
West Ham lineup
Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez, Soucek, Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio
Ipswich Town lineup
Muric, Johnson, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis, Morsy, Phillips, Burns, Hutchinson, J. Clarke, Delap
West Ham team news, focus
Edson Alvarez is back after his suspension, while Niclas Fullkrug could return after his calf issues. Lopetegui is still searching for a spark in attack but with Paqueta, Bowen, Antonio, Kudus and Summerville around, the Hammers have enough quality to figure it out and get going very soon.
QUESTIONABLE: Niclas Fullkrug (calf)
Ipswich team news, focus
Nathan Broadhead and Harry Clarke are close to returns as Ipswich’s injury issues have cleared up. McKenna has instilled an incredible belief in the Tractor Boys who aren’t fazed by anything and work so hard defensively to shut down spaces and make the most of counters and set pieces. Watch out for Omari Hutchinson as he will feed Delap and create plenty of chances on the transition.
OUT: Janoi Donacien (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Harry Clarke (calf), Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Jens Cajuste (knee)
West Ham vs Ipswich prediction
This feels like a game where West Ham finally figure it out and start fast. Ipswich will be in it until the end but the Hammers just have that extra bit of quality which should make the difference. West Ham 2-1 Ipswich.
