West Ham Player Ratings vs QPR: Summerville Shines, Bowen Struggles in Cup Fight
West Ham United’s FA Cup third-round clash with Queens Park Rangers at the London Stadium on Sunday was far from the classic upset thriller many expected — but it was a frustrating and uneven performance from the Hammers before they eventually ground out a 2–1 extra-time victory. Goals from Crysencio Summerville and Taty Castellanos ensured progression, but the story of the day was the contrast between the Dutch winger’s positive display and captain Jarrod Bowen’s disappointing outing. (West Ham Zone)
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side struggled for rhythm against Championship opposition, with large spells of their build-up play lacking invention. West Ham dominated possession and territory, but they too often looked blunt in final-third moments, especially from wide areas. Numerous changes and a disrupted backline — compounded by Konstantinos Mavropanos being stretchered off with a worrying injury just before half-time — forced tactical tweaks that arguably hampered fluidity. (thesun.co.uk)
⭐ Man of the Match: Crysencio Summerville — 7/10
Summerville was undoubtedly West Ham’s brightest spark. After a frustrating first half of the season, the Dutch winger provided a much-needed spark with a well-taken goal on the stroke of half-time, curling into the top corner from close range to give the hosts the lead. He was lively throughout, completing four dribbles and contributing five key passes into the final third — encouraging attacking signs in an otherwise stilted team display. (West Ham Zone)
However, inconsistencies remained: he lost several duels and saw two promising efforts blocked, indicating that while his end product improved, his overall impact still has room to grow. (West Ham Zone)
🔴 Disappointment for Jarrod Bowen — 4/10
For one of West Ham’s most dependable performers in recent seasons, Bowen’s display was a shocker. The captain failed to register a single defensive action and offered minimal threat in attack — managing just one shot that was comfortably blocked and seeing his overall influence limited by an absence of incisive movement or service. (West Ham Zone)
Bowen’s struggles in this match typify a tougher run of form. Whether due to tactical setup or fatigue, his inability to influence the match until he was withdrawn raised eyebrows, especially given the expectation that he would lead the team’s attacking impetus against lower-league opposition. (TheHardTackle.com)
🧤 Other Key Performances
Mads Hermansen – 4/10: The goalkeeper was under little pressure but offered insufficient leadership from the back and was fortunate not to face more serious threats. (West Ham Zone)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 4/10: The full-back struggled to impose himself, with limited forward thrust and several sloppy exchanges in possession. (West Ham Zone)
Jean-Clair Todibo – 4/10: Defensively sound at times but not commanding enough to quell QPR’s sporadic advances, and the pair of centre-backs looked unsettled after Mavropanos’ injury. (West Ham Zone)
Freddie Potts & Soungoutou Magassa – 5/10: The midfield duo battled hard but lacked the creativity needed to unlock QPR’s compact block. (West Ham Zone)
Taty Castellanos – 6/10: Not at his fluid best in open play, but he produced what matters most — a composed extra-time finish to win the tie. A solid showing for a player still adapting to West Ham’s setup. (Yalla Shoot)
Subs: Pablo (6), Soucek (5), Walker-Peters (5), Scarles (5) — mixed contributions off the bench with none truly altering the game’s dynamics. (West Ham Zone)
📊 Final Verdict
West Ham’s narrow escape against lower-league opposition will raise questions about cohesion and attacking threat, especially with Bowen’s uncharacteristically quiet display contrasting with Summerville’s much-needed moment of quality. Progression in the FA Cup was secured, but many supporters will feel this performance underlined deeper issues that need addressing if this squad is to reverse its recent struggles. (theguardian.com)
Would you like a player by player tactical analysis next? (e.g., animations or heatmaps of Summerville and Bowen’s movement)
