Premier League Match report: West Ham 4-1 Ipswich Town

The Blues fell behind to an early goal from Michail Antonio but struck back through Liam Delap, who netted his fourth goal of the campaign. However, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta were all on target later in the game, handing the hosts a comfortable victory in East London.

It was far from an ideal start for Town, who went behind after just 48 seconds as former West Ham loanee Kalvin Phillips gave the ball away to Guido Rodriguez. That allowed the hosts to play it wide to Bowen, who slipped a low cross into the box for Antonio, who tucked it into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Michail Antonio put the hosts ahead inside the first minute of the game (Image: PA)

Ipswich, however, were able to strike back quickly, winning a corner up the other end in the sixth minute. Leif Davis’ delivery was aimed for the head of Dara O’Shea, but Rodriguez beat him to it and flicked it backwards where Delap picked it up. The striker was able to hold off Paqueta and turn before firing a show into the net off the gloves of Alphonse Areola to equalise.

The hosts looked to turn the tide back in their favour. A through ball from Kudus looked to send Bowen through on goal. Jacob Greaves tried to shepherd it back to Muric, but the winger beat it to him, forcing Ipswich to give away the corner, which they cleared.

The break-neck speed of the opening exchanges soon fizzled out. West Ham enjoyed more of the ball but struggled to break down Ipswich, who came closest when Phillips fizzed a shot over the crossbar from outside the box in the 26th minute.

Liam Delap responded with his fourth goal of the season to equalise (Image: Ross Halls)

It was a trend that continued past the half-hour mark. Delap claimed a penalty after being brought down inside the box by Jean-Clair Todibo, although referee Anthony Taylor said no. Seconds later, Wes Burns was fouled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, giving Davis a free-kick down the right flank. His delivery found the head of Greaves, who headed just wide in the 36th minute.

It woke West Ham up a bit, and they broke with numbers in the 38th minute. A cross onto the head of Kudus saw him hit the post before the offside flag was raised.

That saw Ipswich become a bit jittery. From the resulting free-kick, Sam Morsy played the ball right to the hosts. Tomas Soucek sent the skipper flying with a quick touch before taking aim from close range, but Greaves rescued the situation with a block on the line to deny him the goal.

Mohammed Kudus put the Hammers 2-1 up just before the half-time break (Image: Ross Halls)

Town didn’t look overly comfortable on the ball in their own half, and they were undone 90 seconds before the break as Emerson found space to deliver a cross from the left. Antonio headed the ball onto the crossbar before Kudus leapt highest to nod the rebound into the net from point-blank range, putting his side 2-1 up.

Ipswich needed a fast start to the second half, but ended up with the opposite. After a good spell of possession, Ben Johnson caught Arijanet Muric off guard with an overhit lobbed backpass. It forced the goalkeeper to play the ball to Bowen on the right, allowing him to cut in past Phillips amd fire a slick shot into the bottom corner to make it 3-1 in the 49th minute.

A two-goal deficit was always going to be difficult for the visitors, and they were fortunate to not fall further behind after Bowen's chipped pass picked out Kudus in the box. Muric denying him with a big save to keep his team in the game.

Lucas Paqueta added a fourth later in the second half (Image: PA)

Ipswich still had their moments. A good cross from Burns picked out Delap in the 65th minute, but Areola got down well to push the ball wide. Seconds later, Jack Clarke twisted and turned down the left before rolling a tame shot into the gloves of the Frenchman.

For all of their good work in that little period, they were made to pay in the 69th minute as Antonio played Bowen down the right. He played a low cross into the box with the outside of his boot, which the striker dummied to allow Paqueta to tap the ball into the net, making it 4-1.

From that point, the game fizzled out. The Town fans that packed out the away end stayed to sing their hearts out despite the result, which comes as a reality check ahead of the international break.

West Ham XI: 4-2-3-1: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson (Cresswell 83'); Soucek, Rodriguez (Alvarez 70'); Bowen, Paqueta (Summerville 83'), Kudus; Antonio (Soler 70')

Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Muric; Johnson, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips (Taylor 74'); Burns (Ogbene 74'), Hutchinson (Chaplin 83'), J. Clarke (Szmodics 73'); Delap (Hirst 83')