Three Major Takeaways as Relegated West Ham Beat Portsmouth 3-1

West Ham came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Portsmouth, but their performance highlighted both some early concerns and plenty of reasons for optimism.

Early selection raises eyebrows

One of the biggest talking points before kick-off was Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting XI. With West Ham still waiting for further midfield reinforcements following the departure of Mateus Fernandes, the manager brought Edson Alvarez back into the starting side and handed Lewis Orford a role in his new-look midfield.

James Ward-Prowse, who had featured heavily during pre-season, once again found himself beginning the game on the bench.

Portsmouth started brightly and immediately placed West Ham under pressure, particularly from set pieces. The visitors eventually found the breakthrough from a corner, exposing a familiar weakness.

Max Kilman initially dealt with the delivery by heading the ball away, but West Ham failed to push out quickly enough. Segecic was allowed time to collect the loose ball and shoot, with his effort taking a deflection before finding the corner.

The replay made the defending look even worse, with several West Ham midfielders appearing slow to close down the danger.

The Irons offered very little going forward during the opening 45 minutes. Their only real attempt came from an Alvarez header that went straight at the goalkeeper, while Portsmouth appeared to have the greater intensity, speed and physicality.

Then, almost out of nowhere, West Ham turned the game around.

Mohamadou Kante produced an excellent piece of play before combining with Scarles, with the midfielder turning brilliantly and delivering a quality cross. Taty Castellanos met it and calmly finished to bring the scores level shortly before half-time.

West Ham then completed a remarkable turnaround moments later. Jarrod Bowen’s effort took a deflection and ended up in the net, sending the Hammers into the break 2-1 ahead.

West Ham finally find their edge

The final few minutes of the first half looked like a completely different West Ham team.

After being outworked for much of the opening period, the Hammers suddenly became more aggressive, began winning challenges and matched Portsmouth’s intensity. It appeared as though the players had finally realised they would need to compete physically and battle for every ball.

That improved attitude carried into the second half.

West Ham extended their advantage when Kyle Walker-Peters linked up with Bowen before the captain delivered an inviting cross into the box. Castellanos attacked the ball and headed it firmly into the net to make it 3-1.

It was a particularly encouraging moment for the Argentine striker, who finished with two goals from two genuine opportunities. If he can maintain that level of efficiency, he could prove to be a major attacking threat for West Ham this season.

Alvarez escapes punishment

Another talking point involved Edson Alvarez, who was fortunate to avoid a red card after a heavy challenge.

In the Premier League, the midfielder may well have faced a much harsher punishment following a VAR review. With the Championship operating without VAR in the same way, Alvarez escaped without even receiving a yellow card.

Whether that difference ultimately works in his favour throughout the season remains to be seen.

Kante’s impressive afternoon came to an end around the 75-minute mark after he began suffering from cramp. Ward-Prowse was introduced in his place, while Diouf also received valuable minutes and Veltman made a late debut.

Overall, the match provided West Ham with a useful test. The early problems demonstrated areas that still require improvement, particularly in midfield and defensive intensity, but the response after falling behind was encouraging.

Castellanos’ finishing and the quality of West Ham’s key players ultimately proved decisive, while the match also offered several players an important introduction to the physical demands of the Championship.

For a club preparing for life in a different division, there was plenty to learn from the afternoon — but the comeback and eventual 3-1 victory will undoubtedly be the main source of encouragement.