It's not often you hear Elton John's Tiny Dancer playing on the street before an away match. And indeed, inside Vicarage Road the words of Your Song are on the main stand and Rocket Man is playing over the PA. I'm with my pal Peter, a member of the Radlett posse of Watford/Arsenal fans and John an exiled Grimsby fan. We're greeted by ridiculously friendly home fans swathed in yellow at this family-friendly club.
The sides run out to I'm Still Standing by Elton John (this has proved controversial with Watford fans as they prefer the old choice of the Z-Cars theme). It's solid Watford pressure for the first 15 minutes but West Ham defend resolutely, with Rice having a great game against the combative Doucoure and Capoue. On 15 minutes West Ham break decisively, Mark Noble plays a one-two with Antonio but still has a lot to do as he shimmies past Kabasele and stroke it into the corner. I do my best to keep quiet.
The Hammers double their lead six minutes before half time as Antonio powers past three defenders to fire against the bar and Lanzini heads the rebound in — Manuel's first goal of an injury-ravaged season. There's still time for Fabianski to make a great stop from Deeney's header before half time.
SUNDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR SCORING
Two-nil up at the break what could possibly go wrong? Well, Zabaleta has come on for the injured Fredericks and plays a disastrous back pass almost straight from the kick off. Deulofeu takes advantage to poke it past Fabianski. Watford then miss a good chance to equalise and it looks like being an awkward afternoon.
The game changes again as Anderson plays Antonio through with a great ball. Holebas lays a hand on the West Ham striker on the edge of the box, stops a possible goalscoring opportunity and receives a red card. It's a little harsh and it will be sad if Holebas misses the FA Cup Final because of this. Ten-man Watford keep fighting, but Balbuena impresses with his interceptions and calm defending.
WE'RE STILL STANDING
Thankfully Watford's resistance proves to be like a Candle in the Wind. West Ham put the game to bed on 71 minutes as Anderson strokes Zabaleta's cross against the post and Arnautovic, who has worked hard, pokes home the rebound for his tenth league goal. It gets better as the excellent Antonio is felled in the box and Noble strokes home the penalty.
"We want five!" is the unusual chant from the Hammers' fans as sub Jack Wilshere pokes a great chance wide and Watford's defence starts to look like Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters. It's our third win in a row and West Ham go above Watford to finish in the top half.
A very satisfying afternoon's work against a team distracted by the FA Cup Final. Though in a typical example of BBC bias it's not the first game on Match of the Day. I'm left feeling almost optimistic for next season. Irons!
PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Fredericks 6 (Zabaleta 5), Balbuena 7, Diop 6, Masuaku 6; Lanzini 6 (Wilshere 5), Rice 7 (Sanchez 5), Noble 8, Anderson 7; Antonio 8, Arnautovic 7.
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