West Ham United head coach Graham Potter was pleased to finish the season by claiming three points via his side’s 3-1 victory over the Blues at Portman Road, but felt his team lost their way for a spell in the first half.

James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus netted the goals for the Hammers, Nathan Broadhead having netted a leveller for Town, the Wales international’s first home goal since the Southampton game on April 1st last year.

Former Blues left-back Aaron Cresswell, keeper Lukasz Fabianski and right-back Vladimír Coufal all made their final appearances for the East Londoners before moving on this summer.

“It’s a very nice way to finish the season,” said Potter said. “Three points, a good performance in front of our supporters, who were fantastic again, and then obviously a great send-off for the boys.

“It was a very emotional day, and an emotional few days and few weeks actually, so I'm very proud today to be connected with this fantastic football club.”

Reflecting further on the game, he added: “Credit to Ipswich. Obviously, they try to play and they're a well-organised team with Kieran McKenna, he's done a great job here for a couple of years, but I just felt that our physicality could cause them a few problems.

“We had a ten-minute spell in the first half where we lost our way, but apart from that, I thought we were in decent control. We were better when we were more aggressive pressing, and I think the first goal was an error, but a force from us.

“And then actually, I thought we started the second half quite well and looked good, and then we conceded.

“So, credit to the boys, they recovered from that and Jarrod's fantastic finish was a great goal and Mo has just topped it off.

“But in the end it was a good performance, a solid professional performance in a tricky game because, like I said, there's a lot of emotions for us.”

Potter, who was interviewed for the Town manager’s job in the summer of 2018 following Mick McCarthy’s departure, praised Bowen for reacting well to being left out of the England squad named on Friday.

“I thought that his overall performance just sums up him as a person, how he performed today, the energy that he had,” he added.

“Everything that we did that was good. I thought it came through him. In and out of possession, helped the team, ran in behind, linked up, he was a real threat and everyone in the stadium could feel that when he had the ball there was a sharpness to him.

“There was a period in the first half where we lost our way a little bit and then we had to defend and then we had to suffer for about 10 or 15 minutes but apart from that I thought that we were in a good place.

“As a team we have to be better. I don’t like to rely on individuals to dig you out.”

TWTD

churchmans81 added 23:09 - May 25 “our supporters, who were fantastic again”. What? Not from where I was sitting. Hardly heard from them other than the goals and for Cresswell.
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armchaircritic59 added 23:17 - May 25 And that headline was spot on, one of the major problems we've faced all season. Being bullied by much more stronger, physical players. The type we need to recruit, as long as they have the required technical ability as well, of course.
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 06:06 - May 26 The story of our season - we can't match physicality. None of the promoted teams could. That seems to be the major difference between the Championship and Premier League.
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victorysquad added 06:38 - May 26 That west ham team could hold their own at Rugby League, Same as Fulham.
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ArnieM added 07:16 - May 26 Yes Potter, you're not wrong. And not gor the first has a Town side been overwhelmed by a physically stringer team. We struggled with this in League One, in the Championship and now the PL. We've struggled with this aspect of the game since I've watched Town ( over 50 yrs). Our players maybe skillful but they are boys. Eg Clarke, Philogene, Hutchinson, then more senior players such as Chaplin, Burns, Taylor. Tastes no muscle, huehht, weight in our squad and that's 100% down to recruitment. Next season we will play teams like Sheffield utd who will blow us away once again due to their size and physical attributes. McKenna/ Ashton need to rethink who we bring into this club over the summer. Next season will be anything but a walk in the park.

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BlueRuin69 added 08:11 - May 26 Clearly didn't struggle in league one and championship as we got double promotion! Some people on here talk utter nonsense .
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poet added 08:12 - May 26 “Our physicality”? Not sure how physicality could influence 3 gifted goals. Morsy made a terrible blunder with their first, he then failed to close down their player on the edge of our box for the second. Walton should have saved Bowen’s shot, it was at a perfect hight to be pushed around the post, a bread and butter save for a professional goalkeeper. Our goal was the best of the 4. Broadhead finished superbly. Then there was the unlucky Hutchinson, who on another day would have had a brace. So take your ‘I’m a good tactician’ glasses off Potter, and show some accuracy in your summing up.

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Marinersnose added 08:18 - May 26 Another tough watch but we dominated 20 minutes of the first half with little threat on goal. Fabianski made one brilliant safe then after Broady scored a terrific equaliser we sat back and surrendered. Our team lacks pace and physicality and we are clearly no match for the PL. This team will compete in the Championship but without a stronger and quicker midfield it’ll be hard work. Hirst will be okay in the Championship but we will need another top quality striker. It’ll be interesting to see who stays. Looking at our squad only Delap and possibly Hutch would get a start for a PL team the rest are not quite good enough. They are also still raw and developing. Looking forward to next season

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ArnieM added 09:15 - May 26 Blueruin: you obviously don’t attend many games. Yes we got promoted but every-time we played a team that could mix it up, we were found wanting and we struggle. We’ve done it for years! Scum bullied us off the park in both games … were you at those games? Watford, Rotherham, Birmingham, Wycombe, Sheffield Weds, to name but a few. I’m telling you we can’t match the physical teams. Do you actually LOOK at the make up of our squad and think we win battles, tackles, challenges, really ?

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Billysherlockblue added 09:42 - May 26 Plus we never score from corners never-ending defending them. We lack size and drive
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Billysherlockblue added 09:42 - May 26 Plus we never score from corners never-ending defending them. We lack size and drive
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Billysherlockblue added 09:42 - May 26 Plus we never score from corners never-ending defending them. We lack size and drive
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Billysherlockblue added 09:42 - May 26 Plus we never score from corners never-ending defending them. We lack size and drive
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:42 - May 26 Poet you need to go to games. Potter was spot on, and we def need to be Physically stronger WHEN we return to the Premier League as we have been pushed around at times. And Delap theatrics up front just mask that am afraid.
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Blue_In_Boston added 10:56 - May 26 My father in laws old theory that a good big one beats an evenly matched little one 95% of the time holds true. Big teams like Everton, West Ham and Palace bully us every time.
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wischip added 11:23 - May 26 I seem to remember early on in the season when we faced Fulham someone said they were built like rugby players. And there's one of the most crucial attributes required to stay in the Premier League. That's something to critically take on board for future recruitment alongside the primary task of winning promotion again.
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Linkboy13 added 12:10 - May 26 Spot on assessment by Potter people who disagree with him have probably never been near a football let alone got coaching badges. Players in the Premier league are stronger fitter faster and if can't see this you are not watching the game for example Sam Morsy very good player was an absolute animal in the championship but even he has struggled with the physicality of the Premier league. Omari Hutchinson's pace frightened championship defenders not in the Premier league. I think people who have been in the game see the game much differently fans just see it as eleven against eleven and can't really spot differences in class.

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poet added 16:42 - May 26 Portman Terrorist Your assumption as to whether I attend matches or not, is almost as ridiculous as your interpretation of Potter’s post match comments.
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PortmanTerrorist added 11:43 - May 27 poet bites back! Good for you, but if you have been to games and not seen us be physically done over, then maybe you have an obstructed view.
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poet added 14:39 - May 27 Portman Terrorist Bite back! You flatter yourself. That was a friendly little nudge. Well as you obviously regard yourself as someone who can tell whether a poster on here attends matches or not, just by reading their comments, I’d be very interested in plugging into your expertise and asking you the following questions - 1. how long do you think I’ve been a Town fan? 2. What connection do I have with the club? And finally, 3. (not to tax you too much so you need a little nap) when did I first purchase a season ticket? Looking forward to benefiting from your expert and esoteric knowledge, as well of course tapping into your obvious footballing insight.

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