Paqueta stars for record-breaking Hammers

SC Freiburg 1 West Ham 2 (Europa League)

Who needs away fans? It's an early evening 5.45pm kick-off watching on TNT and early on there's encouragement when the Freiburg keeper Atubolu gives away a comedy corner with an air-kick. West Ham take an early lead when Bowen wriggles down the right and gets in a great cross with his weaker right foot. Paqueta rises brilliantly to power home a header that is more Alan Shearer than Fancy Dan Brazilian.

Bowen and Kudus are looking a mobile front two and West Ham almost double their lead when Kudus's effort is fumbled by the keeper on to a post. Freiburg aren't showing much and Paqueta is unluckily to have another goal disallowed for offside.

But the fear is that Freiburg, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga, must improve in the second half and so it proves. The German side play with much more intensity and four minutes in Fabianski makes a fine double save only to see Sallai lash the third effort home. Aguerd should maybe have come out quicker to block rather than stand with his arms behind his back, as is the defensive vogue. It's almost two when a looping header drifts against the post and Holer slices a great chance over the bar.

But this West Ham side is now very experienced in Europe and refuses to panic. Aguerd and Mavropanos remain resolute and Emerson comes on for Kehrer. Bowen slips through and fires against the keeper to win a corner. Atuboli doesn't come out with any conviction and Aguerd gets ahead of him to power home a header from Ward-Prowse's delivery.

The Hammers strike it around well after that as Paqueta sets up a great chance for Kudus, who fires wide of the post. The game ends with Paqueta somehow beating three men on the touchline and playing a great through ball to Bowen, who sadly shoots wide. That would have been the assist of the season. 

So the Hammers complete a record run of 17 games unbeaten in Europe by an English side, beating Pep Guardiola's City, Don Revie's Leeds and Bill Nicholson's Spurs. It's about time David Moyes got some credit for this. Irons!