Arriving at Hackney Wick there's time to scout out the Lord Napier, the "Shithouse to Penthouse" ruin that has now been re-opened as a proper pub — with architectural correspondent Nigel approving of the green tiles on the exterior.
Elsewhere Matt and Lisa have been imbibing cocktails in the Olympic village and Nigel is quaffing a quick half with his mate Martin in the stadium concourse. We're joined by Fraser, though Michael the Thespian is AWOL presumably watching esoteric fringe theatre or knocking out another play.
It's a decent crowd of nearly 46,000 as the flame-throwers go off again and our squad side emerges on to the pitch. Cresswell is doing well getting down the left but at first the Irons' build-up seems ponderous. Genk's lively winger Ito gets away down the left and crosses for Bongonda to head home, before the goal is disallowed for offside.
At the other end Soucek has a header saved and Bowen scuffs a fine cross by Cresswell. Vlasic is doing some neat lay-offs but still seems a little unsure of his role wide on the left. Genk look a better side than Rapid Vienna and are causing problems with blonde winger Ito prominent. Areola also has to race from his area to make a last-ditch clearance. The WHU keeper is lucky when he completely misses a cross and Onuachu heads wide of the empty goal. The fans of de Smurfen start to bounce up and down in the away section.
It's down to a set-piece to calm WHU nerves. In added time at the end of the first half Cresswell swings over a corner and Dawson gets his head on to it, the ball arcing over the leaping defender on the line. A good moment for Dawson, who has been a little unlucky to lose his place in the league side to Kurt Zouma.
The Irons start the second half slowly but then come to life after 57 minutes as Cresswell's free kick is headed in off the bar by Issa Diop. A goal for both of WHU's reserve centre backs. Two minutes later Yarmolenko and Lanzini find Jarrod Bowen, who runs from deep to fire home a shot that the keeper should have saved. The first European goal for a player who was in the Conference with Hereford a few years ago.
Vlasic has a good chance blocked and there's still time for young Dan Chesters to come on for his debut in the 87th minute. Despite being regularly watched in the Under-23s by Matt the lad looks confident, wins a couple of tackles and plays a few passes. Meanwhile sources close to Lisa are suggesting that West Ham could win Group H, though we couldn't possibly comment. But three wins out of three and three clean sheets in Europe isn't a bad start. Irons!
PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6; Johnson 6, Diop 7, Dawson 7, Cresswell 7 (Fredericks 6); Rice 7 (Noble 6), Soucek 6, Lanzini 6 (Chesters n/a), Vlasic 6 (Fornals 5); Yarmolenko 6, Bowen 7 (Benrahma 5).
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