Mark Noble says West Ham United are determined to reward the Claret and Blue Army by signing-off the 2018/19 season on a winning note.
The Hammers host Southampton in their final home game of the campaign at London Stadium, determined to build on an historic victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last time out by collecting another three points.
Victory over the Saints would not only complete a welcome ‘double’ and boost the Irons’ chances of securing a top-ten finish, but also send tens of thousands of supporters away for the summer with smiles on their faces.
I think we’ve played some fantastic football and I think the fans will be buzzing this afternoon because of the result at Spurs
Mark Noble
“I hope we can continue playing like we did at Tottenham last weekend and we have over the last month because if we do, then we have a fantastic chance of winning,” said Noble, who produced arguably his best performance of the season against Spurs.
“We’ve really played well in the last month and I think, if we can play like that at home, with our fans, against a Southampton team who are safe so the game is sort of a bonus for them, we can finish high in the table.
“It’s been an up and down season but, all in all, I think it’s been a really good season. I think we’ve played some fantastic football and I think the fans will be buzzing this afternoon because of the result at Spurs last week.”
While attention will be on London Stadium on Saturday initially, it will then switch to Wembley, where West Ham United’s newly-formed women’s team will take on Manchester City in the SEE Women’s FA Cup final, less than 12 months after the first full-time professional female squad in the Hammers’ history was put together.
And, speaking on behalf of the whole Club, captain Noble wished Matt Beard and his players luck at the Home of Football - a stadium where he helped West Ham win promotion seven years ago.
“It’s a fantastic achievement and it’s a bit of shame the fixtures couldn’t be changed so we could all go and watch, but I wish them all the best,” he observed.
“They’re playing against a really good side in Manchester City but what a fantastic day for them, playing at Wembley. It’s an unbelievable achievement, so I really do hope they do well.
“They’re good bunch who we see around the place at Rush Green a fair bit, so we all wish them the best in the final.”