More Kudus for Hammers in Europe

West Ham 5 Freiburg 0 (Europa League)

There's something special about these European, erm, afternoons. The fans have done well to get off work early and it's very nearly a full house at the London Stadium for the bizarre 5.45pm kick-off. 

The big team news is Alison and Scott (braving an ACL injury to spectate through the pain barrier) have left retirement in Clacton to join us in their old seats, while Steve the Cornish Postie is up taking in London culture and hopefully delivering my Christmas cards. Making up our party are Nigel, Michael, carrying a mysterious hard-backed envelope, Lisa and Big Sam, who has travelled up from Pontypridd. Fraser and Matt are in the West Stand.

The pre-match build-up sees the usual pyrotechnics with Alison wondering why the flame throwers are in wheelie-bins. West Ham set off with some intent and Antonio is a mobile and quick target man taking the pressure off Kudus and Bowen. The crowd is also up for it, regaling us with "West Ham are Massive".

It's the perfect start after nine minutes. Aaron Cresswell's corner is headed across goal by a diving Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta prods home at the back post. Tie level. Antonio makes a great run into the box and pulls back for Kudus to shoot wide of an inviting goal. After half an hour it's two when Bowen does really well to outmuscle a defender, beat another and fire a low shot past Atubolu.

Freiburg have a spell of possession without really testing Fabianski and it's 2-0 at the break. Things are going so well that Nigel doesn't even need to eat his half-time lucky banana.

The tie is settled when the ball falls to Cresswell on the edge of the box, he takes a touch, and fire a powerful left-foot shot onto the corner. It's a hugely popular goal and Cressy is mobbed by team-mates in the corner as he celebrates his first goal in two years. He's done really well while Emerson is injured and looks rejuvenated after a spell on the bench. "We know what we are! Champions of Europe!" sing the crowd. 

WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE!

Alvarez heads just wide from Coufal's cross but the Hammers aren't to be denied. Mohammed Kudus picks up the ball halfway inside his own half, glides past three defenders and scores a brilliant solo goal from the edge of the area. He then picks up a plastic stool and has a deserved sit-down. What an effort and Mo's first goal since returning from Africa. 

It's five when Bowen's short ball finds Kudus who fires another thumping effort into the corner. We've made the team that is sixth in the Bundesliga look pretty ordinary. 'Moyes In' anyone?

There's still time for sub Danny Ings to play in Coufal, whose effort is deflected just wide by Atubolo and George Earthy to make his debut as a late sub. It's rare to have experienced such a comfortable evening in European football and it's also West Ham record win in Europe.

We head off to the Eagle to meet Matt and Fraser. Nigel is looking forward to going to the local derby that is Hornchurch versus Billericay, while Matt reveals that Hornchurch's nickname is the Dickensian sounding, "The Urchins". In fact Matt is on fire with trivia, revealing that Truro have had to play a home game at Gloucester City, just in case we were interested. Big Sam also tells us that Pontypridd FC have been deducted a record number of points in the Welsh league. In other news West Ham have won 5-0.

So it's Bayer Lerverkusen next as the Hammers reach a quarter final for the third successive season in Europe. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Coufal 7, Zouma 6, Mavropanos 6, Cresswell 7; Alvarez 7 (Phillips n/a), Soucek 7, Paqueta 7 (Ward-Prowse 6); Kudus 9 (Ings n/a), Antonio 8 (Johnson n/a), Bowen 8 (Earthy n/a).