Fan blogger Joe Difford reflects on an unforgettable day
Going into Saturday’s away game against Manchester City, West Ham fans were quietly confident having already seen the team beat Arsenal and Liverpool in their own back yards. However, it was clear that this would be the biggest test of them all.
News that David Silva would miss the game due to an injury picked up in the pre-match warm up further increased the level of optimism in the away end, but without Angelo Ogbonna and Cheikhou Kouyate, it was clear that we would need to be at our very best to leave with a point or three.
Fans had barely sat down before Victor Moses smashed in the opening goal from distance, forcing the home supporters into stunned silence as they conceded their first goal of the season.
Possession was always Manchester City’s for the taking and Slaven Bilic’s men patiently waited for their opportunities to break forward and press whenever possible.
Mark Noble has proven exactly why he has been made the new club captain, as he organised his men wonderfully well and made sure that the unexpected starter, Jesus Navas, was kept under control.
Man of the Match Winston Reid was unlucky not to have scored the second of the game, rising unmarked to head the ball goalward from a corner, but fortunately Pedro Obiang kept things alive, before Diafra Sakho stabbed home from close range.
Many would have expected City’s goal on the stroke of half time to unsettle the team, but instead we reacted, as Noble said, like “heroes” and put our bodies on the line to stop everything the Citizens had in their locker.
Adrian was hugely impressive on his return from suspension and although many believed that Darren Randolph should have been given the nod, the Spanish shot stopper didn’t disappoint and showed to a television audience exactly why he is often regarded as one of the best keepers in the league.
No side has beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City away in one season since Chelsea did ten years ago and they went on to win the league. Whilst that may still be a bit of an unrealistic goal for Hammers fans, we have shown to everyone that they we capable of great things this season.
Slaven Bilic has got the team playing without fear, but also with stability and a cohesiveness fans haven’t seen for a while. Manchester City put the Hammers under the cosh for almost the entire second half, but a clever tactical change, putting forward men out wide to support the full backs, paid dividends.
What is even more exciting is that Enner Valencia and Alex Song are still to return from injury, so the current squad isn’t even at its strongest, believe it or not.
With a home match against Norwich and then a trip to the Stadium of Light on the horizon, West Ham could well maintain their high league position for a few more weeks.
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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United