Here is Paddy’s verdict on Dean Smith’s Norwich, who lacked the quality to keep West Ham at bay or seriously trouble them at the other end.

Tim Krul 6

Sharp stop from Jarrod Bowen in the second minute set the tone for the night. Left exposed later by those in front of him for a double strike from the same attacker. Also advanced to confront Bowen in the second half, who clipped a rising shot against the top of his bar.

Quality diagonal pass for Brandon Williams sparked a first half counter. Had a tussle with Nikola Vlasic that ended with the Dutchman sprawled inside his own net. Grasped an effort from Manuel Lanzini from long range.

Excellent stop with his legs when Michail Antonio was left unmarked in the closing stages. Still defiant in stoppage time when he beat away Andriy Yarmolenko’s swerving effort.

• Max Aarons 6

Not the night he wanted to mark his 150th senior appearance. Capped by the video assistant referee adjudging he had played Bowen onside for West Ham’s second goal. Allowed Vlasic to veer around him in the sixth minute and cut the ball back for Lanzini, who drilled over from 20 yards.

Tracked the run of Antonio before levering him off the ball as he sensed a chance to gather Aaron Cresswell’s long pass.

Got up in support of Adam Idah in the 40th minute in a move that ended with a strike from Przemyslaw Placheta. Was the wrong side of Vlasic but made a perfect tackle inside his own box. Another sliding block cut out a Declan Rice low cross two minutes before Bowen pounced.

• Grant Hanley (C) 6

Vital clearance going into his own six yard box with Bowen on the hunt in the 11th minute.

Another big block was needed with his knee midway through the opening period with Vladimir Coufal swivelling at the back post to clip a half volley goalwards. Antonio rolled him inside his box in the 52nd minute but the Scot did enough to force him to sky over.

• Ben Gibson 5

Second best in his duels with Bowen. Notably for the opener, when the England hopeful came from behind him to rise and head home Coufal’s cross.

Lost him again in the second half when he ran between the centre back and Brandon Williams in the effort that clipped the top of Tim Krul’s bar.

Beaten in the air by Antonio twice in the first half that triggered West Ham counters. Not able to step into midfield either to showcase his passing range.

• Brandon Williams 5

Jumped under Coufal’s cross that was headed home by Bowen. Failed to track his later run in that big chance that hit the woodwork. Did threaten to offer a counter-attacking outlet in parts of the first half.

A barnstorming run in the 13th minute left two Hammers on the deck after controlling Krul’s bouncing ball to roll in Idah.

Mopped up in the 34th minute after Gibson was beaten in the air by Antonio. Did get out sharply in the 62nd minute to deflect Bowen’s low shot on the angle that thudded the foot of a post.

• Kenny McLean 6

Swung in a cross in the first minute that Craig Dawson cleared. Curled a left footer over from Milot Rashica’s set in the 10th minute.

Gorgeous weight on a pass over the top for Idah that led to another decent first half opportunity. Less of an attacking threat after the interval.

• Pierre Lees-Melou 5

Did try and add some defensive ballast to his work without the ball alongside Kenny McLean. Turned out of trouble cleverly in the 16th minute with a curled pass into the feet of Rashica.

Tracked the run of Pablo Fornals at the expense of a corner as West Ham upped the ante in the first half. Like McLean, faded in the second period with Rice ensuring the hosts got the upper hand.

• Przemyslaw Placheta 5

Did not sense the danger quickly enough when Cresswell ran off the back of him in the lead up to West Ham’s opener. But one or two promising signs in an attacking sense.

Linked with Max Aarons and Teemu Pukki to test Lukasz Fabianski with a low shot from range prior to the interval. Perfect weight on a hooked ball set Pukki racing free in the 54th minute but Idah was unable to climb high enough.

• Adam Idah 6

Another chance to impress in the starting line up. Came as close as any in green and yellow to ending that Premier League goal drought with a 20-yard effort Fabianski pushed onto his post.

Gave Dawson food for thought with his willingness to stretch the play and the strength to hold him off on a few occasions in the first half. Had another sighter in the second period but Pukki’s cross skimmed his head.

• Teemu Pukki 5

Had more support than normal around him but still limited sight of goal. Best work was teeing up Placheta in the first half before stretching the play again and looking up but getting too much juice on his intended cross for Idah.

Was also needed screening the front post on defensive situations.

• Milot Rashica 6

Should get out quicker to halt Coufal as he clipped the cross back for Bowen. Understandably faded given his long lay off but there were some positive early signs of intent.

Drove at Cresswell and then rolled in Kenny McLean for a big chance. Checked onto his left to take a swipe from Idah’s cutback but the ball dribbled through to Fabianski.

City substitutes

• Kieran Dowell (for Placheta, 66) 4

Carried it a good way down the right flank but Vlasic robbed him too easily when he ended up down a blind alley.

• Christos Tzolis (for Rashica, 72) 4

Powered into the box but held up by Cresswell. Ball came back to him to unleash a wild hack over the bar from 25 yards.

• Jonathan Rowe (for Idah, 75) 4

Timely interception to thwart Coufal at the back post.