It's off to the new lucky pub, the Leicester Arms, where we saw West Ham score four against Wolves last week. Nigel arrives with his £15 West Ham mask — made in Italy probably at Paolo Di Canio's menswear shop — and a lucky Status Quo plastic bag, advertising the Quid Pro Quo tour of 2010/11. He's been using it Again and Again. Matt's wearing his lucky Botafogo t-shirt, as you do, while we're also joined by super sub Lisa and Fraser, who is still claiming that Moyes plays without a striker as Antonio is really a winger.
It's a good start from the Hammers. Soucek's Czech mate Coufal looks solid at the back and likes a tackle. Even a reducer from Vardy doesn't worry him. After 14 minutes the first goal is all about Antonio. He's bundled over by Soyuncu, takes a quick free kick out to Cresswell and then sprints to the back of the box to head home Cressy's inviting cross. It looks like we're continuing where we left off against Wolves.
Despite winning 5-2 at Man City last week, Leicester are having trouble penetrating West Ham's five-man defence. After 34 minutes it's two. Cresswell hoofs the ball upfield and suddenly Fornals is behind the home defence. Pablo shows great control to cushion the ball, switch feet and fire past Schmeichel. Blimey, this really is a lucky pub.
At the break I opt for a Gamma Ray after an early Americano, while it's a lucky bacon burger with chips for Nigel and some lucky £8 cheese toasties for Matt and Lisa. Though we do have to caution Nigel after he starts talking about our positive goal difference.
Ogbonna has a great game at the back as Leicester exert some early pressure. But West Ham have chances to make it three. A fine block from Evans foils the lurking Antonio, Bowen passes when he should shoot and then Declan Rice runs from his own half to smack a shot against the bar.
THREE-NIL TO THE COCKNEY BOYS
It's a great counter-attacking performance from the Irons and it's rounded off with a superb third. Skipper Rice calmly plays the ball out of defence to Fornals. Pablo shows patience before dissecting the Leicester defence to play in Bowen who calmly flicks over Schmeichel. It's a fine finish and a good moment for Fornals who has scored and assisted for the first time since he arrived at West Ham.
As Quo fan Nigel might out it, we're no longer going Down Down but Rockin' All Over The World. Seven goals and two clean sheets in our last two league games. Pretty much a perfect away performance. So much for those who said we'd have no points after the first seven games. Irons!
PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Coufal 7, Balbuena 7, Ogbonna 8, Creswell 8, Masuaku 7; Bowen 8 (Noble n/a), Rice 8, Soucek 8, Fornals 8; Antonio 8 (Haller n/a).
5 comments:
Again, stick with that pub!
Not at all suprised by the score....but £8.00 for a cheese toastie!!!
Thought of you Steve when I saw the price of a cheese toastie!
Hi Pete, great write up of your experience of the day and game, the team looked such an organised unit who understood the system they were largely impenetrable, quite surreal for any longterm Hammer! Can it continue? we can only hope, but so enjoyable to watch. Jesus £8 for a cheese toasty but if that's the lucky pub we all might have to have a whip around. COYI
Covid seems to have sent all the prices up in the West end... Bu they can charge £20 for a toastie if they like in exchange for 4-0 and 3-0 wins!
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