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Adama Traore was certainly a bright spark during West Ham United’s bizarre, occasionally brilliant and ultimately heart-breaking FA Cup defeat by Leeds.
While so much pre-match was made of the fact that Nuno had to do without Crysencio Summerville for a third straight match, the Dutchman’s replacement certainly took his chance at the London Stadium.
A scintillating performance capped by a quite wonderful assist. Axel Disasi opened his account as a flurry of Hammers fans tried to force their way back into the stadium, a 96th minute volley set up by a sublime Adama Traore cross from the left-hand side.
What did you make of Adama Traore’s performance?
Has he won you over?
If all goes to plan, Summerville will be back for Friday’s six-pointer against Wolves. But if he isn’t, at least the West Ham United boss knows he can rely upon the £2 million January signing from Fulham to make an impact in Summerville’s absence.
Adama Traore ‘superb’ despite West Ham United’s FA Cup exit
Speaking on TNT Sports before captain Jarrod Bowen surprisingly missed in the penalty shoot-out and Pablo Felipe less surprisingly missed in the penalty shoot-out, Ally McCoist was glowing in his praise for the oft-maligned Traore.
Photo by Ben Roberts – Danehouse /Getty Images
“I’ll tell you, Traore has been lively. He’s been their best player,” McCoist said through mouthfuls of pie delivered to the commentary booth by Hammers icons Alan Devonshire and Tony Gale.
The Rangers icon pointed out that, before Traore cut in and curled the cross into Disasi’s path, he had come the width of the post from an almost identical equaliser; Taty Castellanos striking the woodwork with a diving header.
“That’s the ball he’s been playing. I don’t want to take any shine off it – [Disasi’s] foot is very, very high, it’s extremely high – but it’s some finish, dear me. It’s a brilliant finish.”
Joe Cole, who was a Premier League champion with Chelsea the last time West Ham reached the FA Cup semi-finals, called Traore ‘superb’. A series of flying runs, rolling back the years and showing there is still plenty of thrust in the 30-year-old speed machine.
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“For large parts of that game, West Ham were the better side, but Leeds had grit and determination; they dug in,” Cole added, singling out Lucas Perri following two shoot-out stops to overshadow debutant Finlay Herrick.
“And Daniel Farke, what a job he’s done. He has a way of playing; they are together, very much ‘dig in.’ They needed every ounce of that drive and desire to stay in this game, and they took the opportunity.“
“I thought West Ham were absolutely unbelievable as the game progressed,” agrees Jermaine Beckford, hero of Leeds’ iconic 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the very same competition in 2010. “They were fantastic, the better of the two sides.
“But Leeds did what Leeds needed to do. I didn’t enjoy it, I’ll be honest!”
Traore, at least, did give the West Ham fans something to ‘enjoy’ themselves.
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