Fewer touches than Areola: WHU dud who completed just 1 pass all night let Moyes down - opinion

The London Stadium now well and truly feels like home for West Ham United and the club’s supporters.

It has taken a long time for the atmosphere to boil fiercely at the old Olympic Stadium but with the Irons going deep in Europe, a carnival has arrived in east London.

The win over Sevilla a few weeks ago was nothing short of sensational and as Lyon entered town on Thursday evening, there was vast optimism in the crowd once more.

An extremely controversial red card to Aaron Cresswell threatened to spoil the party but when Jarrod Bowen found the net via a deflection in the second period, it looked as though the Hammers were taking a 1-0 advantage back to France next week.

However, the visitors fought back with Spurs loanee Tanguy Ndombele beating the ‘keeper late in the encounter.

It was an unfortunate goal to concede, specifically for Ben Johnson who was thrown in at the deep end.

The full-back has largely been impressive during his breakthrough campaign in the capital but he was particularly abject for the goal after being substituted on following Cresswell’s red card.

Lyon’s own substitute Tete beat him all ends up down the right flank for their goal, skinning him before delivering a teasing cross that was eventually fired home by Ndombele.

It wasn’t an ideal night for Johnson, who has recently been linked with a move away, but on this evidence, he still has plenty to learn about his game.

During his time on the field, he had fewer touches than goalkeeper Alphonse Areola (18) and only successfully completed one pass in the entire game at a success rate of a meagre 20%.

Lacking in composure with his passing and positioning for the goal, he was arguably the only minor downside to the draw on Thursday evening.

Cresswell