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One to Watch: Issa Diop already beginning to repay West Ham’s transfer fee
After his disastrous debut for West Ham last weekend, Issa Diop put in an excellent shift as West Ham edged past AFC Wimbledon 3-1 to progress in the EFL Cup.
There were some shaky moments though, mainly in the first half as he found his feet in the tie. Diop however, grew into the game and quickly asserted his authority – especially aerially.
He was aided in this as Wimbledon went down to ten men mid-way through the second half. From then on, the West Ham defence was impenetrable and Diop was given license to be more assertive in possession. He took advantage, using the extra space afforded as Wimbledon sat back to gallivant into their half and orchestrate attacks.
Diop completed 69 of his 75 passes in the game, although less than 30% of these were played forward. More promisingly, the 21-year-old completed five of his eight long passes. One lofted ball to Felipe Anderson late in the game highlighted his excellent passing range when he is called upon to dictate play from the back.
“We didn’t score the goal [until the 63rd minute], but we kept calm, we kept moving, we tried to create space and eventually we scored the goals that we needed to win the game.”
Even better was his equalising goal. With West Ham still trailing mid-way through the second half, the French centre-back took up possession in the attacking third with one thing on his mind. Seconds later, the net was rippling, as Diop rifled a shot from 20-yards past the Wimbledon goalkeeper’s outstretched hand at the near post.
Minutes later, Diop underlined his aerial threat when he nodded an excellently directed corner into the crossbar. The Frenchman also won seven of the 11 aerial duels he contested in the match.
He will, however, face much sterner tests in the Premier League than a ten-man AFC Wimbledon side from League One, but it is a reason for optimism that this was such a promising display nonetheless, providing West Ham fans a glimpse of his quality.