GistReel

Graham Potter’s tenure at West Ham United kicked off with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.

However, the new manager was quick to highlight the positive aspects of his team’s performance.

Despite the loss, Potter emphasized the effort and application of his players, saying, “I think the effort, the application, the spirit of the group was good. I can’t fault them for that.”

The game, which was part of Aston Villa’s 150th anniversary celebration, saw West Ham take an early lead through a well-executed move finished by Lucas Paquetá in the 9th minute.

Potter’s delight was evident as he stated, “They’ve given themselves to the game and I think you can see that.”

But the Hammers’ lead was short-lived as the match took a turn after halftime.

The second half saw Aston Villa mount a comeback, with the turning point being a controversial corner kick decision that led to Amadou Onana equalizing for Villa.

Potter expressed his disappointment with this moment, noting, “I think the first goal was disappointing for us. Whether it was a corner or not, I’ll have to look at it again.”

Shortly after, Morgan Rogers scored the winning goal for Villa, sealing a 2-1 victory and advancing them to the fourth round of the FA Cup.