Danny Ings took time rising from the turf. He looked to the heavens, clenched his fists and exhaled into the cold Birmingham mist. Frustration was written all over his face.
The 32-year-old striker had squandered the chance to score a late equaliser against Aston Villa and his miss may accelerate West Ham United’s pursuit for a forward this transfer window.
In truth, there were a lot of encouraging signs in Graham Potter’s first match in charge, having been announced on Thursday as Julen Lopetegui’s successor after signing a two-and-a-half year contract. Despite the 2-1 loss in the third round of the FA Cup, the team looked more organised, there was a marked improvement from Lucas Paqueta and young prospect Ollie Scarles, who was named man of the match, impressed on his first domestic start.
But losing Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville, although precautionary at half-time in the latter’s case, to injury highlighted the urgent need for attacking reinforcements.
Ings and Luis Guilherme, a £25million ($30.5m) summer signing from Palmeiras, were the only offensive options on the bench. Guilherme is yet to start a fixture this season and has only played 43 minutes across five matches. Defender Vladimir Coufal replaced Summerville at half-time with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, a right-back, forced to play as a makeshift right winger.
Fullkrug, the £27m addition from Borussia Dortmund, was sidelined for three months with an Achilles tendon injury. He scored two goals in seven appearances following his return. But early on against Aston Villa, the 31-year-old sustained a hamstring injury and had to be assisted off the field by members of Potter’s backroom staff.
Fullkrug departs in pain (Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
“I would imagine it’s quite a severe hamstring injury (for Fullkrug) when you pull up like that, so that’s a concern for us,” Potter said in his post-match press conference. “He (Summerville) pulled up a little bit. We didn’t think it was worth the risk for him to carry on. I need to assess the injuries, assess where we’re at and have a think with everyone connected if we need to do anything, or find someone who could help us.”
Marcus Rashford, 27, the Manchester United forward, and Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, 20, have been linked with moves to West Ham. The latter has worked under Potter, who managed Brighton from 2019-22.
Fullkrug now joins fellow attackers Jarrod Bowen (fractured foot) and Michail Antonio (broken leg) on the sidelines. But Potter refused to be drawn on potential offensive additions.
“Well, I used to say this 20-odd months ago, I only comment on players that are West Ham players,” he said. “And all the speculation, I know from my own experience… sometimes things that are written in the newspapers aren’t exactly true, and you can get yourself in all sorts of knots, confirming or denying everything.
“So it’s best to just speak about players that are West Ham players.”
Summerville was taken off as a precaution at half time (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
If those issues were familiar, this was actually a fresh start for West Ham.
There were noticeable differences between the mannerisms displayed by Potter compared to Lopetegui on the touchline. Potter was calm, something that was reflected in his team’s first-half performance. Lopetegui was often animated in the technical area. He received five yellow cards in the Premier League.
Potter played a 4-2-3-1 formation against Aston Villa. The attacking trio of Summerville, Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus alternated roles and enjoyed a fair degree of success. An attacking move that culminated in Paqueta’s shot narrowly going wide was greeted with applause from Potter after 44 seconds. The head coach only oversaw one training session in the build-up to this game. A team meeting at the hotel, prior to kick-off, was the only other opportunity he had to discuss tactics.
But you would not have known it on the evidence of West Ham’s first-half display. A team that looked bereft of confidence under Lopetegui played with self-belief and poise. The biggest compliment to Potter were the groans from the Villa Park faithful at their own team’s lack of attacking verve. Paqueta scored nine minutes into Potter’s tenure and celebrated with an invisible guitar. It was West Ham pulling the strings.
“In the first half we started really well, had a good defensive organisation and carried a threat,” said Potter. “Everything we spoke about you could see the players trying to do, which was really good. In terms of chances created for Aston Villa in the first half, they had relatively few, if any. (So) lots to be pleased about, but losing Fullkrug and Summerville to injury was a blow for us which probably affected us a little bit.
Ings rues a late miss (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
“We didn’t carry the same threat in the second half and ended up a little bit too deep.
“But the players kept going and had a few chances, could’ve maybe got the equaliser at the end but it wasn’t meant to be. Their first goal came from a corner which we weren’t sure it was — it didn’t look it. These little things sometimes you need (to go for you) but, in the end, it is what is and we’re disappointed.”
The chagrin over the manner of the defeat will not linger for long. There are lots of positives for Potter to build on, but first he must address the shortage of attacking options. A busy few weeks lie ahead.
GO DEEPER
Graham Potter the football manager: A creator of structures in which individuals can shine
(Top photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
