Graham Potter Watch: It was all change for the new West Ham manager's first match in charge, writes JAMES SHARPE - except for the result!

Graham Potter took to the dugout for the first time as West Ham manager on Friday evening but was unable to secure a win on his debut as his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa.

The hosts at Villa Park spent most of the match playing catch-up, after Lucas Paqueta opened the scoring in just nine minutes to the delight of the travelling fans.

But after toiling for the remainder of the first-half and much of the second, Unai Emery's side were able to draw themselves level via a sneakily-taken shot from Amadou Onana.

Just five minutes after the equaliser, Villa were able to finally pull ahead courtesy of Morgan Rogers' 76th-minute strike.

But although he returns to the capital with the first defeat of his stint in charge under his belt, how did Potter fare in his new role?

Here, Mail Sport's James Sharpe zeroes in on the new manager, and what worked - and what didn't.

Graham Potter began his stint as West Ham manager at Villa Park on Friday evening

Potter's side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa, who fought back for a 2-1 victory

The former Chelsea boss was all change in the dugout but for now it yielded the same result

TACTICS

Same players, same formation, different beast… but the same result.

Potter named a familiar-looking team to the one Julen Lopetegui had all season but from the off this felt like a new side.

He’s only had one training session but this looked like a group of players actually trying to enact a tactical plan instead of hoping someone, usually the now-injured Jarrod Bowen, might make something happen.

It was a 4-2-3-1 on paper but whenever Villa had the ball, Aaron Wan-Bissaka tucked in while winger Crysencio Summerville dropped in to make a back five.

The attacking trio of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Summerville kept rotating and Villa struggled to deal with their movement.

Hampered by two first-half injuries, Potter was unable to counter the Villa pressure when it came and regain control of the game. Eventually, it cost them.

Aston Villa struggled with the rotation of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Summerville

BODY LANGUAGE

No charge down the touchline from Potter when Paqueta’s opening goal went in. Just a clench of the fist and a little punch of the air.

Potter is rarely that animated but spent a lot of the time gesturing at his players and moving them into position. He applauded Paqueta’s earlier shot that went just wide. He waved at centre-back Max Kilman to narrow the gap between the centre-backs, he was deep in conversation with Edson Alvarez at another break in play.

As things got frantic in the second half, as Villa ramped up the pressure, out came the hands, patting the air palms to the ground, in the universal gesture for ‘calm down, lads’.

Not that it worked. Villa equalised and Potter immediately called youngster Ollie Scarles over for a chat before the hosts then took the lead.

As they searched in vain for an equaliser, he kept waving, kept gesturing, kept clapping and, above all, kept his cool.

Potter is rarely animated by spent a lot of time gesturing at his players and moving them about

As things got frantic in the second-half, out came Potter's hands in a bid to project calm

CROWD REACTION

Until the equaliser went in, the West Ham fans were going through the full repertoire. One-nil, to the Cockney Boys. West Ham ‘Til I Die. Forever Blowing Bubbles. How S*** Must You Be, We’re Winning Away.

They had rarely been able to enjoy their side playing decent football, or leading games, much this season. By the end, it was the hosts in full voice.

No booming song for Potter yet, though. That will come. You imagine that will come, with more improved performances and, crucially, results.

SUBS

Had his hand forced early when Niclas Fullkrug, who has already missed three months this season with an Achilles injury, pulled up inside the first 15 minutes and was replaced by Danny Ings.

Summerville looked to pick up a knock in the first half, too, and was replaced at half-time. Potter chose to bring on Vladimir Coufal at right-back and push Wan-Bissaka up to right wing.

Hardly the greatest show of faith in Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme, a £25million summer signing, who remained on the bench.

When his side went behind, he replaced youngster Scarles with Aaron Cresswell – an odd choice when searching for an equaliser.

The manager was forced into making an early substitution when Niclas Fullkrug was injured

Potter wrapped up in a club shop coat - a far cry from his suited-and-booted days at Chelsea

FASHION

No suave turtleneck jumper and suit combo this time for Potter like during his Chelsea days. Far too cold for that.

Just a standard-issue club shop quilted winter coat over a tracksuit with black Umbro trainers.

Nothing spectacular, back to basics and, after this result, back to the drawing board.

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