Ben Johnson was all smiles after playing a big part in a big come-from-behind Premier League victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
West Ham United looked all at sea as they trudged off at half-time at Molineux, trailing to Pedro Sarabia’s penalty, but following changes to personnel and tactics at the break and during the second half, the Irons turned the game around to score a 2-1 win.
Johnson was influential in it, too, raiding up and down the right flank, first from full-back and later from wing-back after Jarrod Bowen’s injury saw David Moyes switch to a back three. With Emerson doing likewise from the left, West Ham were transformed, pushing a previously dominant Wolves deep into their own half.
Emerson had conceded the Wolves penalty and then had a goal disallowed for a foul, but later won a spot-kick for his own team, which Lucas Paquetá converted, before Johnson went close to putting West Ham in front when his volley was saved by José Sá.
The resurgent Hammers would not be denied, though, as another substitute, Aaron Cresswell, won a corner and James Ward-Prowse curled the flag kick over Sá and inside the far post for a sensational winning goal.
Even then, there was late drama as Johnson conceded a corner which was headed in by Max Kilman deep into added time, only for the goal to be disallowed following a VAR-instigated pitchside review by referee Tony Harrington.
West Ham’s impressive No2 is now hoping his impressive display may be enough to earn him a start in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final first-leg tie at German side Bayer Leverkusen…
“My job is to play as well as I can. I just try and beat players, run past them and keep the ball and get my teammates involved.
