Graham Potter suffered a painful begin to his West Ham reign as Aston Villa’s late surge sealed a 2-1 win within the FA Cup third spherical on Friday. Potter was employed by the Hammers on Thursday to interchange Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked earlier this week after simply six months in cost. But the previous Chelsea supervisor was unable to make a profitable return to the dug-out as West Ham squandered the primary half lead given to them by Lucas Paqueta. On a freezing night at Villa Park, Unai Emery’s males emphasised the scale of the duty going through Potter with a second half fightback that uncovered West Ham’s defensive flaws.
Amadou Onana equalised earlier than Morgan Rogers bagged the winner to depart Potter holding his head in frustration.
The former Brighton boss is again in administration for the primary time since being dismissed by Chelsea in April 2023.
Potter lasted lower than seven months at Chelsea, dropping 11 instances in his 31 video games in cost and slumping to eleventh place within the top-flight regardless of a £288 million ($351 million) spending spree in his one switch window.
Potter has tried to be taught from the “ache” of that failure, vowing to “come again stronger” after an expertise which will have value him an opportunity on the England job when Thomas Tuchel was employed final 12 months.
Potter had only one coaching session together with his gamers earlier than the journey to Villa and was with out key forwards Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.
Under the circumstances, he might be inspired by West Ham’s attacking play however fixing their points on the again should be high of his to-do listing.
“Overall, upset to exit, however a number of positives within the recreation,” Potter mentioned.
“The begin was actually good however within the second half Aston Villa stepped-up and pushed us again a bit an excessive amount of. That’s one thing we should enhance.”
Lopetegui was unable to construct on the stable foundations left by David Moyes, who received the Europa Conference League in 2023 earlier than stepping down on the finish of final season amid fan complaints about his dour fashion of play.
Potter definitely seems to be able to banishing these considerations as West Ham attacked Villa with verve within the first half.
Paqueta was near giving Potter a dream begin when the Brazilian’s strike from the sting of the world flashed simply large.
It was a warning Villa did not heed as Paqueta opened the scoring within the ninth minute.
Crysencio Summerville teased Villa’s Ian Maatsen with an incisive run into the world earlier than slipping a go to Paqueta, who planted a medical end previous Robin Olsen.
Potter celebrated in fist-pumping fashion however there was a setback for the brand new supervisor when Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug limped off quickly after the aim.
Paqueta was a continuing risk and he compelled Olsen to save lots of after one other menacing raid.
But Villa’s second half surge was rewarded within the 71st minute.
Tyrone Mings flicked on a nook to Maatsen and Fabianski might solely push his shot to Amadou Onana, who reacted quickest to poke house from close-range.
West Ham had been livid, claiming the nook shouldn’t have been awarded as a result of Boubacar Kamara’s shot was not deflected.
But Villa scented blood and went for the kill within the 76th minute.
Ollie Watkins burst into the West Ham space and pulled his go again to Rogers for a medical strike into the underside nook.
Third tier Wycombe loved a shock 2-0 win over Championship facet Portsmouth in Friday’s different third spherical tie.
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