Aaron Cresswell and Mark Noble were quick to emphasise the team spirit inside the West Ham United dressing room following Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Manchester United.
The temptation may have been there to bask in personal glory after Cresswell marked his return to the team with a fantastic free-kick, while Noble captained his boyhood team to a deserved victory at a sold out London Stadium over one of the biggest clubs in the world
However, both told Sky Sports they were happier with three points and a third consecutive Premier League clean sheet than anything else.
It makes it that little bit more special when you beat Manchester United at home and you perform like that
Mark Noble
“It’s not just consecutive home wins over Manchester United, but consecutive home wins this season too, as we played a really good Norwich team last time out here, so the feelgood factor around the club at the moment is high,” Noble told Geoff Shreeves.
“It makes it that little bit more special when you beat Manchester United at home and you perform like that, with another clean sheet – I think that’s three in a row now – and another three points for us.”
Cresswell agreed with his captain and close friend, putting the team’s all-round level of performance above that of his truly outstanding 25-yard free-kick, which iced the game late on following Andriy Yarmolenko’s well-taken first-half opener.
“The clean sheet was the main thing and that’s three on the bounce, as Nobes just said,” the left-back concurred, after making his first Premier League appearance since the opening-day defeat by Manchester City in place of the suspended Arthur Masuaku. “I started the first game and clearly wasn’t good enough and we lost five-nil, and Arthur has come in and done well. The main thing is we got the three points and we’re all one team.
“The free-kick was one of the best of my career but, as I say, I’m a defender so to get the clean sheet and the three points were the most-important thing.”
West Ham’s latest victory took them above Manchester United and into the European places. While it may be early in the season, Noble confirmed that confidence is coursing through the Irons’ dressing room at present.
“That result gives us belief that we can compete with the top teams with the players we’ve got here,” said the No16, who was making his record 353rd Premier League appearance. “The feelgood factor around the Club is real and to get another clean sheet and another three points is special.”
