21 August 2023 , 01:00
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In the gastronomic home of pie and mash, James Ward-Prowse's set-piece delivery was different gravy.
West Ham may have lost Declan Rice's leadership and defensive savvy over the summer, but they have gained a dead-ball virtuoso. It took Ward-Prowse just seven minutes of his Hammers debut to provide his first assist in claret and blue.
At £30million, his corners and free-kicks didn't come cheap. But the Irons place such a heavy emphasis on set pieces, and the assorted chaos they generate, that JWP's conveyor belt will be worth its weight in gold. Since his Premier League debut 11 years ago, only Christian Eriksen (29) has supplied more assists than Ward-Prowse's 25 assists from set plays.
As soon as the former Southampton captain plonked a right-wing corner on Nayef Aguerd's head at the far post, West Ham were on to a sure thing. The feel-good factor from their Europa Conference League triumph in Prague was evident around the stadium, not least the trophy itself standing proud on a plinth by the tunnel, and the live band was a hit.
Despite their playlist including the tiresome Sweet Caroline, the Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps provided a rousing pre-match brass ensemble. By the end of an equally stirring derby, Mauricio Pochettino had every right to feel brassed off because there's no way in a bugle concerto that Chelsea should have lost.
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James Ward-Prowse's West Ham debut was one to remember thanks to two assists and a win (Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)Apart from Enzo Fernandez seeing his penalty saved superbly by Alphonse Areola, and playing for a quarter of the match against 10 men, Poch Spice knows his team didn't do enough with their 76 per cent possession. Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet for 13 games, their worst run for 27 years. Don't be fooled by the diamante effect on the club badge – all that glitters is not gold.
Their £105 million signing missed a penalty and the £115m record buy gave one away. But for the Hammers, happy days are here again. Moyes will need more than dead-ball specialist Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta's chocolate box of tricks (you never know what's coming next but you don't want to share him) and Michail Antonio's enduring mix of muscle and finesse in the months ahead.
But after spending last season looking over their shoulders before that silver lining in Prague, digging out gritty wins remains the Moyesiah's finest work of art. Yes, it was messier than a toddlers' tea party. But where there's muck, there's brass.