Graham Potter's West Ham era begins with narrow FA Cup exit

By SABC Sport
11th January 2025

Graham Potter's reign at West Ham United began with a spirited performance but ended in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.

Despite early promise, the Hammers fell to a late winner, leaving fans with mixed feelings about the new manager's debut.

Potter named a strong line-up for the clash, introducing 19-year-old Oliver Scarles at left-back, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to his natural position on the right.

Aston Villa, celebrating their 150th anniversary in a special black kit, fielded a competitive team, including Robin Olsen in goal and Tyrone Mings in defence.

West Ham made a bright start, with Lucas Paqueta opening the scoring in the ninth minute after a composed finish.

The Hammers looked sharp in transition, with Mohammed Kudus, Crysencio Summerville, and Niclas Fullkrug supporting the attack.

However, their momentum was disrupted by two first-half injuries, as Fullkrug appeared to pull his hamstring and Ross Barkley was forced off for Amadou Onana.

Villa struggled in the first half, failing to register a shot on target, much to the frustration of their supporters.

Roy Keane, covering the match, criticised their display, stating, "Villa have been shocking. Rubbish!"

The second half saw a tactical tweak from Potter, with Wan-Bissaka pushed into midfield and Danny Ings replacing Fullkrug. While West Ham maintained their attacking intent, Villa found their stride.

Onana bundled home a controversial equaliser from a corner that should not have been awarded, and young forward Rogers completed the turnaround after excellent work from Ollie Watkins on the left.

Despite the defeat, there were positives for West Ham. The team displayed greater cohesion and effort compared to previous matches, showing glimpses of Potter's attacking philosophy. "We're starting to see what this squad is capable of," Potter has said.

With West Ham sitting 14th in the Premier League, Potter's task is clear: build on this improved performance and climb the table. While falling at the first FA Cup hurdle is disappointing, the signs of progress under the new manager provide a reason for optimism.