Declan Rice stood out as West Ham United snatched a draw with Stoke City in the Premier League but he wasn’t the Man of the Match.
Plenty of West Ham United fans cannot believe that the club awarded Aaron Cresswell the Man of the Match award for Monday night’s smash-and-grab 1-1 draw at home to Stoke City.
A stoppage-time stunner from the returning Andy Carroll earned the Hammers a point against the Potters, smashing home a volley from a Cresswell cross to deny Paul Lambert what would have been a vital win in Stoke’s fight against the drop. But that was pretty much the only delivery that the left-back got right all night at the London Stadium.
Cresswell’s set-pieces were unusually wide of the mark and, in truth, he hardly stood out despite putting the last-gasp chance on a plate for Carroll on the striker’s first appearance since he was linked with a move to Chelsea in January.
But, as the West Ham supporters on Twitter were at pains to point out, Declan Rice was possibly the best player on the pitch; certainly of anyone wearing claret and blue.
The 19-year-old put in another commanding and composed performance alongside Italy international Angelo Ogbonna, one week after his eye-catching display in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
And the London Stadium faithful seem to feel that Rice was far more deserving of a new mantelpiece ornament than Cresswell.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
