Carlton Cole and Joe Cole have lauded the performance of Pablo Fornals

Former West Ham duo Joe Cole and Carlton Cole have lauded the performance of Pablo Fornals in their 1-1 draw against Lyon.

Jarrod Bowen scored to spark wild scenes of celebration for the 10-man Hammers after Aaron Cresswell was sent off on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors Lyon drew level in the second half through Tottenham loanee Tanguy Ndombele's finish.

But the TV pundits was keen to praise Spanish midfielder Fornals for his display with former striker Carlton Cole claiming he was his man of the match. 

The midfielder work perhaps went under the radar, but he won possession in the build up to the goal and slipped the ball through to Bowen. 

He also earlier in the match created a golden opportunity for forward Michail Antonio, while he also just never stopped running.

Cole, who made 293 appearances for the Hammers and found the net 67 times, told BT Sport: 'Pablo understands the game and everyone works off him, he works hard, he can do the nice side as well. 

'He does the ugly, but the nice side. He was immense and my man of the match.'

Joe Cole strongly agreed with his former team-mate and even compared Fornals to an old fashioned box-to-box midfielder.   

'He's a very talented player, he can link between midfield and defence. He has bought into the way of David Moyes. 

'He is a Spanish player, you don't play for Spain without having ultimate technique. He's so clever. He does everything well Fornals.  

'He scores goals, creates goals, and influences the game at both ends of the pitch. He's an old fashioned box-to-box midfielder with fantastic technique. 

'These fans love him, he is one of them. You can put him in any system because he is a clever and he was vital. 

'He done a fantastic job in protecting Johnson