Hammers hang on to survive Silkeborg scare

WEST HAM survived a scare in Denmark as they came from behind to make it two wins from two in the Europa Conference League.

West Ham’s comeback against FCSB last week came with three second-half goals but this time around, three first-half goals in the space of 25 minutes secured the points for the visitors.

Silkeborg — managed by exAston Villa defender Kent Nielsen — had never won a game in the group stages of a European competition but took a surprise early lead, thanks to a superbly taken goal by Kasper Kusk. A wellout worked move saw Lukas Engel’s cross find Kusk and his first-time finish left Alphonse Areola rooted to the spot.

The lead lasted just seven minutes after Tobias Salquist fouled Maxwel Cornet in the box and the visitors were awarded a penalty, which Manuel Lanzini converted.

And David Moyes’ side went ahead soon after as Cornet fed Gianluca Scamacca and the Italian unleashed a strike past Nicolai Larsen before he could move.

West Ham were fortunate when Silkeborg had a goal wrongly ruled after their skipper Nicklas Helenius headed in from a corner but the referee had blown for a free-kick on Areola.

If the Europa Conference League had VAR, it would have been two apiece but instead the Hammers doubled their advantage shortly before the break when Craig Dawson — making his first start of the season — bundled in Aaron Cresswell’s corner at the near post. It was Cresswell’s 300th West Ham appearance and the fourth European game in succession where West Ham had scored three.

The second half seemed like an exercise in common sense until Soren Tengstedt pulled one back for Silkeborg with 15 minutes to go — blasting home to make it a nervy ending.

West Ham held on, though another tough test lies in a double-header against Belgian giants Anderlecht in October.

WEST HAM (3-4-1-2): Areola 6; Kehrer 6, Dawson 6.5, Cresswell 6.5; Coufal 5, Lanzini 6 (Coventry 90+3min), Rice 6 (Soucek 63, 5), Emerson 5; Paqueta 6 (Benrahma 63, 5); CORNET 7.5 (Fornals 86), Scamacca 7 (Bowen 63, 5).

Booked: Cresswell.

Scorers: Lanzini 13 (pen), Scamacca 25, Dawson 38.

Referee: Fabio Verissimo (Portugal).