A good year for the Irons

2021 has been quite a year for West Ham. We've seen the Hammers finish sixth in the Premier League and 10,000 fans return to the London Stadium for the final game the 2020-21 lockdown season. West Ham have played six games in the Europa League, with more to come. Declan Rice has emerged as the best midfielder in England, Antonio has become a great striker and more importantly his hamstrings have stayed untwanged, Ogbonna (until his injury) and Fabianski have remained quietly consistent, Cresswell has provided bags of assists and Fornals and Benrahma have emerged as quality midfielders, while Jesse Lingard had an exceptional loan spell at WHU.

This season the crowds have been back and the London Stadium has started to feel more like home. Astonishingly we've seen West Ham beat Man United, Spurs, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea in cup and league games. We've ended the year with a 4-1 win at Watford and some of the away wins have been most impressive; 3-2 at Palace, 3-2 at Wolves, 3-1 at Aston Villa, 2-1 at Burnley, 3-1 at West Brom, 4-2 at Newcastle, 2-1 at Leeds, 1-0 at Everton, 4-1 at Villa. Not the sort of thing a West Ham side normally does. Well done to David Motes and his men and a Happy New Year to all readers of Hammers in the Heart.

Excellent Irons earn much-needed win at Watford

Watford 1 West Ham 4

Certainly enjoyed watching this one on Prime, though with no commentary. It's the worst possible start after four minutes as Dennis bursts into the West Ham box, Craig Dawson goes to ground and the Watford striker fires in the opener.

Luckily Watford haven't trained for 18 days and even though their players are fresh, West Ham dominate the rest of the match against a depleted side. When Benrahma hits the bar it looks like nothing is going for the Irons. Thankfully the equaliser comes after Bowen cleverly finds Soucek, who has advanced into the box to fire home first-time. With Noble sitting deep and playing well, Tomas is looks much more effective getting forward in the absence of Rice.

Two minutes later the Hammers score a second as Lanzini finds Antonio on the wing, who advances into the box and pulls back for Benrahma to score.

The second half sees the Hammers score early as Soucek crosses for Antonio to challenge and Bowen volley home the loose ball, only to be disallowed by VAR for a possible foul by Soucek in the build-up. Chants of "F**k VAR!" can be heard from the West Ham fans.

NOBLE CAUSE

VAR proves more fruitful when Antonio does well to cross from the line and Bowen nips in front of Bachmann.The Watford keeper has gone into overdrive and clatters Jarrod without getting the ball. Here's something you'll never forget. It's a penalty and Mark Noble strokes home a very popular goal.

The crowd soundtrack provides a medley of WHU classics such as the Ludek Miklosko song, Twist and Shout, "West Ham are Massive!" and "Craig Dawson he left 'cos you're shit!" Plus something rather rude about Harry the Hornet. 

After more good play by Bowen Antonio should score as Bachmann saves with his feet. But the fourth eventually comes as Bowen gets down the right and pulls back for sub Vlasic to slot home. A goal that will do a lot for Nikola's confidence.

There's still time for Fabianski to make a great save with his face from Dennis and then superbly tip over a header from a late corner. WHU badly needed a win and this keeps West Ham fifth and challenging. Much better all round from a team that has played twice in 48 hours. Irons!

Boxing Day hangover for West Ham

West Ham 2 Southampton 3

The Overground is closed so it's a long trek on the Underground to Stratford with my daughter Nell. The lack of trains and omicron fears have put off a lot of fans and there are a dispiriting number of empty white seats, giving the game an anti-climatic feel. Still, at least diehards Matt (reading Man About Tarn), Lisa, Fraser, Michael, Nigel, CQ, Alison and Scott are in attendance, with Scott predicting it will be 3-2 again, though he doesn't say for which side.

The Irons look off the pace and disjointed. Southampton take the lead after eight minutes when Walker-Peters finds Elyounoussi, who fires into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Rice and Soucek should surely have closed him down more effectively. 

OFF THE PACE

The away fans regale us with When The Saints Go Marching In and the team in yellow dominate the half, with Fornals, Benrahma, Vlasic and a toiling Bowen failing to create anything up front. "Just get on your horse and f***ing charge!!" yells an irate fan behind us, possibly a cousin of Matt's. West Ham's best chance comes from a misplaced pass by the Saints, as Vlasic draws a decent save from Forster. On the plus side the Bank of Dad does buy Nell a nice if expensive hot dog.

CQ keeps up our spirits at half-time by passing round the inaptly named Celebrations. Moyes shakes it up up at the break by bringing on Antonio, back from isolation, and Lanzini, replacing Vlasic and Fornals though most of the team could have been pulled off. 

West Ham play with much greater intensity and look a better side with Bowen back on the right wing.The equaliser comes when Bowen's corner is headed back by Dawson and Antonio twists to bullet home a header. That will be good for his confidence and even VAR doesn't manage to cancel it.

Yet we can't hold on to the lead. Rice fires a good effort just wide, but then at the other end Broja beats Diop for speed. Dawson barges into him outside the box but then falls into the Saints striker in the box. After the ref gives a corner VAR intervenes and Kevin Friend points to the spot, though the original offence was surely outside the area. Ward-Prowse is never going to miss.

PUTTING THE GAME TO BEDNAREK

The response from West Ham is good. Three minutes' later Soucek finds Bowen, who wriggles down the right and pulls back for Benrahma to fire home. Surely we can now beat the team that can't hold a lead? Not with Soucek giving away a stupid foul on 70 minutes. Ward-Prowse plays in an excellent delivery and Bednarek rises above Dawson and Soucek to power home a glancing header and send the away fans into ecstacy.

"This is just like watching the old West Ham," suggests Nell, strangely reassured by the fact that we are back to being flaky. The Irons huff and puff for the remaining 20 minutes. "When has Yarmolenko ever done anything ever? What was the point of that, Masuaku?" exclaims the irate Vicar's Son, possibly in need of a relaxing trip to San Francisco.

An Antonio blocked shot and a few corners is as good as it gets and at the end Southampton celebrate like they've won a Champions' League Final. Fraser, Matt and myself find the empty Refreshment Rooms still open as Matt reminisces about a drug bust for a member of the Wombles, as you do. 

This was poor, and rather like a Pellegrini side. The loss of Cresswell, Zouma and Ogbonna would test any team, but reinforcements in defence and attack are needed and we'll do well to finish in the top eight. There was some hope in the second half performances of Bowen and Antonio but you can't concede three goals at home and win — unless you're Man City. 

At least we can put it right in two days against Watford in what is now a must-win game, though this is the game where our slump started to look like more than a blip.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Coufal 5, Dawson 5, Diop 5, Masuaku 5; Soucek 4, Rice 6, Benrahma 6 (Yarmolenko 5), Vlasic 5 (Antonio 7), Fornals 4 (Lanzini 6); Bowen 7.

Come back Cressy

It's significant that West Ham have only won one in six games since Aaron Cresswell got injured at Man City, though one of those was admittedly a dead rubber in the Europa League. Aaron's one of those payers you don't miss until he's gone. Antonio in particular has missed his accurate set pieces, while he's also a better defender than most of us realise. Ben Johnson isn't so good going forwards, while Arthur Masuaku has his moments like against Chelsea, but is much better in a back five and struggles with defending. The Athletic reveals that since the start of 2020-21  Cresswell has provided nine assists, the joint third best record of any full back in the PL, with Coufal also providing nine assists. As soon as we can get Cresswell and Coufal back in tandem West Ham's attacking game will surely improve.

Hammers unlucky to lose at Spurs

Tottenham 2 West Ham 1 (Carabao Cup)

A game of football is actually played during the strange omicron hiatus while we wait for Boris to make a decision that will satisfy his back-benchers. Again it's a Sky game on my laptop, just like in lockdown days.

Kane tests Areola early on but it's an even first 30 minutes until Spurs take the lead. Hojbjerg isn't tracked as he runs on to Bergwijn's pass and crosses for Bergwijn to stroke home.

The response from West Ham is excellent. Vlasic is having a much better game and crosses for Soucek to head towards the top of the net only for Lloris to make a fine tipover. Then a good tackle from Harrison Ashby allows Vlasic to get in another cross for another Soucek header that is again excellently tipped away by Lloris. 

Dawson misses with a free header from a corner, but the equaliser eventually comes. Dier, who is not on fire, messes up a short goal kick from Lloris, Vlasic mishits a shot which turns into a pass, Bowen controls and pulls back, baffling Dier, and strokes it into the net. 1-1. Is it happening again?

All that good work is ruined by conceding another sloppy goal two minutes later. Bergwijn bursts past Lanzini and Masuaku on the right, fires in a cross in and Lucas Moura gets ahead of Johnson to score. Areola should maybe have done better too.

There's still time before the break for Lanzini to play in a fine cross that sees Soucek denied by a last-ditch intervention from Skipp.

West Ham have most of the second half. The TV commentary insists that it's brilliant game management by Spurs, rather than West Ham pushing them back. Bowen heads wide from a Masuaku cross and is then denied by a desperate race from his line by Lloris. Benrahma comes on and looks up for it, volleying just wide of the post. 

Can we make it penalties? A great surge from Rice in added time sees the ball go across the Spurs area and reach sub Yarmolenko. His shot is deflected off a defender on to the top of the bar. Areola comes up for the resulting corner, and actually gets a touch, but it's all too late.

We've gone out of the Carabao Cup but it's been a much better performance. And this was without the first choice back four of Coufal, Ogbonna, Zouma and Cresswell and the self-isolating Antonio. WHU still struggle to create against teams that sit back, but we gave it a real go here. 

Plenty of positives: Johnson returned, Ashby got some experience, Dawson was solid, Vlasic had a fine first half, Benrahma looked dangerous and Bowen scored a great goal. We can of course now concentrate on the Europa League, the FA Cup and making the top six. But we do need a win against Southampton to get back on track. Irons!

Tired Hammers lose out at Emirates in battle for top four

Arsenal 2 West Ham 0

At least my Covid pass works getting in to the Library, though it does say that I have a fine to pay on some overdue books from two seasons ago. I'm among the Gooners thanks to a benevolent Arsenal fan and sitting just a few rows behind David Moyes while trying to dodge Omicron. 

At the start of the game there's a minute's applause for Ray Kennedy and then we're off. Betway-jacketed David Moyes, Paul Nevin and Kevin Nolan stand in their technical area like a group of subsidence engineers discussing compaction in the West Ham defence.

It's a competitive game and both teams fly into tackles. West Ham's only effort is a curler from Fornals that goes just wide of Ramsdale's post. The Irons are showing resilience, but towards the end of the half the Arsenal pressure starts to tell. Coufal gets booked for a trailing arm across Martinelli. Tierney has a thumping shot tipped on to the bar by Fabianski and just before the break the Hammers' keeper parries Lacazette's shot and Dawson does just enough to put off Martinelli who almost nets the rebound. Still, 0-0 at the break isn't too bad considering it's Arsenal who have threatened for most of the half, with Saka enjoying coming up against Masuaku and Lanzini.

The second half gets off to the worst possible start. Martinelli uses his speed to drift between Soucek and Coufal and latching on to Lacazette's through ball he expertly strokes the ball into the corner and sets Arsenal's flags flying.

The Hammers almost equalise as Xhaka's loose ball is pounced on by Bowen and Ramsdale has to tip his shot away one-handed. Antonio then gets in a decent cross that Bowen pokes wide.

Then comes a turning point. Coufal looks to have made a solid tackle in the box only for ref Anthony Taylor to award a penalty and give Coufal a second yellow card. Lacazette appears to have been shot by the Jack Grealish sniper. Coufal has played the top of the ball and there's some follow through, but even if you think it's a penalty it's hard to see why it deserved a booking as well in what was an honest attempt to play the ball. Justice is done when Fabianski makes a fine save from Lacazette's penalty.

West Ham at least show some character when down to ten men, as Antonio becomes a makeshift right back and the Irons have a spell of pressure. But Saka's shot is almost deflected in off Diop and the game is settled after 87 minutes. Benrahma is out-muscled in the Arsenal half, the home side break and Smith-Rowe fires a shot through Diop's legs and past an unsighted Fabianski with the West Ham defence expecting a pass. 

On a happier note Harrison Ashby comes on for the final 11 minutes and doesn't look out of place. But Arsenal deserve their win and go above the Hammers into fourth place. Soucek is looking tired and so are Antonio and Rice. Cresswell, Ogbonna and Zouma are big misses and it's clear Moyes needs to buy a defender and striker in the window. That's one win in six league games now. Assuming it goes ahead, WHU have to get on track with a win against a weakened Norwich.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 8; Coufal 6, Dawson 8, Diop 7, Masuaku 5; Soucek 5, Rice 6, Lanzini 5 (Benrahma 5), Fornals 6 (Ashby 6), Bowen 6, Antonio 6.

Sir Geoff at 80

There was a revealing interview with Sir Geoff Hurst in the Guardian recently to mark his 80th birthday and his new book Eighty at Eighty. I didn't know that he'd lost a child to cancer or that his brother took his own life at Chelmsford station in 1974. As well as tragedy Sir Geoff has some good stories about claiming unemployment benefit  and for a time trying to sell insurance as a door-to-door salesman, despite having scored a hat-trick in a World Cup Final. Different times — a bit like finding Ronaldo or Messi selling double glazing on your doorstep today. Click on the link to read.

Irons fail to make dominance pay at Turf Moor

Burnley 0 West Ham 0

Was away in Edinburgh for this one, and while it's welcome to get a point at a ground where WHU usually struggle, there's a sense of two points lost here. The Irons had nearly all the chances looking at the TV highlights. Masuaku volleyed narrowly wide, headers from Diop and Benrahma tested Nick Pope and Dawson had a very good claim for a penalty turned down by VAR. 

Rice looked most likely to make the breakthrough. shooting just over and then forcing a fine save from Pope after a barnstorming run. Yet at the end Burnley could have nicked it had Rodriguez connected with Taylor's inviting cross. At least Vlasic did better as a sub and set up a great late chance for Soucek to win it.

It's worrying that Antonio is still struggling to score and the side is looking a little jaded in terms of creating chances. Soucek, Benrahma, Lanzini and Fornals need to get among the goals again. But at least the resilience is still there, though we'll have to be more effective creatively against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Young Hammers lose out to Zagreb

West Ham 0 Dinamo Zagreb 1 (Europa League)

It's down to the diehards for this dead rubber, with just Matt, Lisa, Nigel and Fraser representing our contingent in the Billy Bonds Stand. The Irons were always likely to lose after naming a side of kids and veterans. The new back line of Ashby, Baptiste, Alese and Longelo actually did pretty well in the circumstances, though 17-year old Sonny Perkins was isolated in the lone striker role. Ashby showed aggression and fired onto the roof of the net while Alese had a good game at centre back.

Zagreb took an early lead with a tremendous shot from Orsic, firing into the top corner from almost the same position that Arthur Masuaku scored against Chelsea. Dinamo missed a few more chances and Areola made some good saves but at least the Hammers kept in the game.

It was disappointing from the senior players though. Noble and Benrahma took a series of poor corners, Vlasic worked hard but didn't produce any real moments of flair, Kral was solid but didn't get forward in the way Rice can and too often opted for the safe ball, while Yarmolenko looked anything but a top international. Late on Moyes brought on even more debutants, Freddie Potts, son of Steve, and Keenan Forsan. West Ham's only real efforts were a Benrahma free kick fired at the keeper and a late half-chance for Alese. 

A great night for the kids, but not too much else to be learned from this beyond the fact that our squad lacks depth. At least the first team should now be rested for Burnley and this was a credible effort by the youngsters.

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 7; Ashby 6, Alese 7, Baptiste 6, Longelo 6; Kral 6, Noble 5, Fornals 5 (Benrahma 6), Vlasic 5, Yarmolenko 4; Perkins 5.

Zouma out for three months

The bad news is that Kurt Zouma is out for three months with a hamstring injury and Ben Johnson is out for a month. As with Ogbonna, Zouma tried to play on and West Ham's medical team really have to be more proactive in taking injured players off at the first sign of trouble. Somehow we have to keep Craig Dawson and Issa Diop fit and make an emergency signing in January. 

In the event of either getting injured Ben Johnson is out for a month and when he's fit could probably do a job at centre back with his physique and strength. While another option would be to bring in Kral and play Declan Rice at centre back where he performed really well in the latter stages against Chelsea — though  that would deprive WHU of an immense force in midfield. The obvious signing would be Burnley's James Tarkowski who is out of contract at the end of the season — but can Burnley be persuaded to part with their centre back when they are in a relegation battle? WHU will have to throw quite a bit of Daniel Kretinsky's money at them. 

While the injuries to Ogbonna, Zouma and Johnson prove we can't rely on Antonio staying fit, and with Benrahma away in Africa for a month the Irons must also sign Jesse Lingard and a back-up striker in January. If West Ham are going to make the top four we're going to have to do it the hard way.

Headlines you never thought you'd see...

King Arthur we salute you... a great London Stadium moment. Always good when an unexpected player scores. Reminiscent of the time the ball came over and Frank Lampard Snr fell over and scored the winning goal at Elland Road  — and when the great Steve Potts netted his only goal in the 7-1 demolition of Hull City.
 

Arthur Masuaku, he's better than Lukaku!

West Ham 3 Chelsea 2

It's another early BT Sport start at 12.30pm for this one. Nigel has gone to the wrong Stratford for his birthday, rather than showing CQ a good time at the Best Cafe with our own resident Bard Michael the Whovian. Matt's wearing his possibly lucky sapphire third choice away strip, and we're joined by Lisa, Fraser and returning Clacton duo Scott and Alison, who just might be a jinx. Scott predicts a 3-2 home win, as if that will happen.

For half an hour the game is fairly even with Fabianski saving from James but fairly few chances and lot of chants telling Chelsea where to stick their blue flag. That's until 28 minutes when Thiago heads home unopposed from a corner, having lost Antonio. That's unlike West Ham, but soon the Irons are back in it. Coufal has a shot cleared off the line, then Jorghino plays a dodgy back pass, Mendy dawdles and Bowen is alert enough to nick the ball before being being brought down by the keeper. Despite a lot of verbals from the Chelsea players Manuel Lanzini wallops an excellent penalty into the top corner.

Then the injury curse of Mystic Morris strikes again. Zouma has already been down and now Johnson appears to pull a muscle just as he's tracking Mason Mount. The Chelsea man volleys a spectacular goal into the bottom corner and then unwisely celebrates in front of the West Ham Fans. Luckily Fraser doesn't order a pitch invasion. Johnson is replaced by Arthur Masuaku. Matt promises to be positive and reminisces about Arthur's only goal for the Hammers.

JARROD BOWEN'S ON FIRE

At the break it looks like Chelsea will go on to show their Champions League-winning credentials and pass us into submission. But Moyes has clearly put something in Antonio's tea and Michail is looking a lot more lively and starting to bully Chelsea's defenders, while Bowen is threatening on the break and the side is much more on the front foot. Suddenly we're level as Coufal flicks on to Jarrod Bowen who fires a brilliant finish into the bottom corner and runs to the Bobby Moore End foe a knee-slide celebration. Clearly he's on fire. And never underestimate the resilience of this Hammers side.

Can we hold on for a 2-2 draw? Zouma has to go off having injured himself tackling Ziyech and we really are down to Harry's bare bones as Chelsea bring on the £90m Lukaku. Antonio wins possession to put in a great cross for Bowen to poke just wide when he should probably score. Chelsea lob endless balls into our box and Jorginho's shot is deflected wide off Diop. 

KING ARTHUR

We seem to be holding out in the 87th minute when Arthur Masuaku receives the ball on the left. He stops and gets in a brilliant cross that sails over the flailing Mendy and into the corner to spark mayhem. IT'S ARRTHUUUUUR!! Masuaku holds his arms up in a Cantona-esque gesture of aloof brilliance. None of us have ever doubted King Arthur, especially the Vicar's Son who has always viewed Arthur as a maverick genius and has now seen his idol score his first goal in the Premier League.

"West Ham are Massive everywhere we go!" rings round the stadium for the four minutes of added time. The part0-timers in the Chelsea end have left a bank of empty seats. Bowen is set up by Antonio and almost scores a fourth, bending the ball past the post. Finally the whistle blows. We have beaten Man United, Man City, Liverpool and now Chelsea. Alison has been relieved of her jinx label and Nigel is dancing in the streets of Stratford-upon-Avon. 

It's all slightly surreal to be heading to Stratford with a crowd of 60,000 fans singing "Whoah Arthur Masuaku, he's better than Lukaku!" We head off to the Theatre Royal bar for some deserved pints of Atlantic IPA and a rendezvous with Dan Dan the Wrestling Man (who strangely hasn't bet on Arthur to score) as Michael contemplates a theatrical trip to Hornchurch. Matt suggests that it might all be like Doctor Who and we will suddenly wake up out of this timestream and find ourselves back in London in 2021. We have seemingly beaten the European Champions and their blue flag has been inserted in a most unusual place. It seems we are Massive. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 8; Coufal 8, Dawson 7, Zouma 7 (Fornals 7), Diop 8, Johnson 7 (Masuaku 9); Rice 9, Soucek 8, Lanzini 8 (Benrahma n/a), Bowen 8; Antonio 8.

Tired Hammers denied by Brighton

West Ham 1 Brighton 1

It's off to the London Stadium at the inconvenient time of 7.30pm for this Amazon Prime match against our bogey side from East Sussex. Brighton haven't lost to the Irons in eight Premier League meetings, winning three and drawing five.

The big news is that Nigel is only at the match because the Alcatrazz and Girlschool concert has been postponed because Girlschool's drummer has Covid. We're joined by a rainbow laced Michael who is writing his weekly play on farcical goings on at Number Ten, plus Matt and Fraser. The Clacton contingent have opted to stay at home in Essex. 

The big discussion is whether Nigel has jinxed us by saying that "it's lucky we don't have any injuries" at the start of the Liverpool match, resulting in Ogbonna and now Cresswell getting crocked. Tonight Mystic Morris just says that he can see a 1-1 draw after an 89th minute equaliser.

NO DOUBTING TOMAS

Brighton start briskly with Matt's least favourite striker Maupay firing just wide after some sloppy play in defence by Benrahma. But it's West Ham who take the lead after five minutes. Fornals' corner is glanced home off Soucek's head with Sanchez immobile on his line.

It's the perfect start for the Hammers, but the side is still looking jaded with our passing game never really getting going. Brighton have more possession but it's West Ham who almost make it two after a brilliant move. Rice finds Coufal out wide, the full-back crosses, Antonio heads across the box and Fornals smacks a fine volley against the bar. 

Brighton dominate the midfield play for much of the latter stages of the half with Maupay playing in Moder, who is foiled by an excellent stop from the onrushing Fabianski. We also note that Brighton's hirsute left-back Cucurella looks like a cross between Mario Kempes of Argentina and one of Nigel's prog rock guitarists.

ONE-NIL TO THE VAR

The second half begins with Brighton going close again. Then West Ham come to life as Fornals' corner causes confusion, the ball bounces off Dawson and in either off a defender or Antonio. Is it 2-0? Our celebrations are curtailed by VAR. After a massive wait it's not disallowed for a foul, but is then ruled out for offside. The decision is that it touched Antonio on the line in an offside position. It's hard to say who the ball touched last and if it takes so long to decide surely it's not a clear and obvious error? A victory for the pedants at Stockley Park.

Bowen has a great run from deep only to fire at Sanchez, but the side looks very leggy and Moyes takes an age to act before bringing on Lanzini and Masuaku. Surely we should have given our fresher players like Vlasic and Kral some game time. Benrahma's passing is awry and Antonio looks exhausted.

Manuel at least injects a bit more urgency into WHU's play. It's almost two as Brighton mess up a short goal kick and Antonio sets up Rice for a thumping shot that is excellently parried by Sanchez.

Brighton are now down to ten men after another injury.  "What is the point of Masuaku?" cries the exasperated Vicar's Son as Arthur loses possession again. Lallana shoots wide and then Antonio's long-range header is fielded by Sanchez. 

MADE TO MAUPAY FOR MISSED CHANCES

Can the Hammers show enough resilience to grind out a 1-0 win? Erm, no. Lamptey gets around Masuaku and crosses for Maupay to score with a great overhead kick and run to the away fans as a blue flare goes off. Not even VAR can save us. Nigel curses the Girlschool drummer with Covid for making him attend the game.

The Irons do respond well in the six minutes of added time. Rice makes a storming run from deep and sets up Bowen who hits the keeper yet again. In the dying moments WHU force a corner and Zouma's header is cleared off the line by Cucurella. But it's not to be and the Hammers have to be content with a point. 

We retreat to the Refreshment Rooms where we meet The Gav. "At least we'll always have Parris," quips Matt, in reference to pre-match appearance of George. We then discuss our worst ever West Ham defeats and cover the 6-0 League Cup debacle at Oldham, the 3-2 defeat at Wigan that sent us down, a 2-2 draw at Rotherham, the 7-1 loss to Blackburn, the Play-Off Final loss to Palace and a host of other disasters. Not that we're pessimists. 

Tonight we got a point at least, but didn't look anything like top four contenders and Moyes needs to freshen things up for Chelsea.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Coufal 6, Zouma 6, Dawson 6, Johnson 6; Rice 8, Soucek 7, Benrahma 5 (Lanzini 7), Fornals 6 (Masuaku 5), Bowen 7, Antonio 5. 

Kretinsky speaks

Interesting to read new 27 per cent shareholder Daniel Kretinsky's column in the Evening Standard last week. As a billionaire he no doubt has lots of PR advisers, but he is at least saying the right things. He is opposed to the so-called European Super League and admitting that he rushed things at Sparta Prague, suggests that evolution is the way forward for WHU rather than spending big in January. He also appears to appreciate the work of Moyes and his coaches and the atmosphere generated by the fans, having attended the Leicester and Liverpool games. 

Kretinsky stresses the Czech Republic links with West Ham, citing Ludek Miklosko (who comes from near Moscow), Tomas Soucek, Alex Kral and Vladimir Coufal, though strangely omitting Super Tomas Repka, perhaps due to his run-ins with the Czech Old Bill. It's now been reported that there is a time-limited clause enabling Kretinsky to buy out the two Davids, though it's unclear when this expires. But his initial ambitions for club appear to be on the right lines.

Snow points at Man City

Manchester City 2 West Ham 1

Rather annoyingly this wasn't on TV, so had to listen on Radio 5 instead. Moyes rested Bowen and brought in Masuaku, a move  criticised by some, but it's surely understandable that the gaffer might decide Jarrod needs a break with two home games in a week coming up.

West Ham started well, with Antonio turning Dias and crossing for Benrahma, who failed to control a good chance. Then Michail broke through on the other flank and was foiled by Ederson.

As the snow came down City's passing game kicked in. Walker shot wide, Mahrez had a goal correctly disallowed and then Laporte headed just past the post. City's opener came after Mahrez found too much space on the right and Gundogan stroked home his cross. The marking could certainly have been tighter. Ben Johnson had to make a great clearance off the line before the break as a blizzard ensued and the ball was making tracks in the deep snow.

It looked like the game might be postponed, but a great effort from the City's ground staff saw the pitch swept clear of snow during an extended interval. After that City continued to press with Fabianski having a fine game and Cresswell injuring his back as he collided with the post while clearing off the line.

Once Bowen came on the Irons did pose more of a threat with Rice testing Ederson with a long-range effort. It was sub Fernadinho who sealed the points though with a drive from the edge of the box late on, his first league goal in three years.

There was still time for Lanzini to score an incredible goal from the edge of the box with the last kick. A shame for Manuel that it didn't earn any points as it was every bit as good as his screamer at Tottenham. If he could do that more regularly then surely he'd get more games.

So it's two defeats in a row but not a time to panic. It should be remembered that this City side beat Paris St Germain in midweek and that we kept the game close. They are one of the richest clubs in the world while we only have one striker. What's more worrying is that Antonio has only scored one goal in seven league games and we want him back firing (though he did get two for Jamaica). We need to get a win against Brighton on Wednesday, a team that hasn't won in eight games, though they've drawn six, and then do something special against Chelsea.

Rapid progress

Rapid Vienna 0 West Ham 2 (Europa League)

It's back to the days of lockdown as the Irons take on Rapid Vienna in an empty stadium with a team of squad players while I watch on BT Sport. The lads look at it early on as Masuaku crosses low and Bowen pokes wide. Yarmolenko produces a mixture of one brilliant cross and a lot of running into defenders, but it's the big Ukranian who makes the difference on 40 minutes. Vlasic gets in a decent cross and Yarmy rises above his man to head home. That will do the confidence of both players a lot of good.The game is put to bed before the break as Yarmolenko is foolishly fouled on the edge of the box and Mark Noble steps up to take the penalty and score his first of the season.

The second half sees the Hammers contrive several ways not to get a third as Rapid are restricted to long-range efforts. Bowen wriggles through a group of defenders only to poke the ball at the keeper. Yarmolenko finds Soucek with a fine ball, Tomas hits the keeper when he should score and then Bowen has his shot cleared off the line.

Subs Fornals and Benrahma add some late energy and the game is enlivened by the debut of 17-year-old Sonny Perkins. He almost scores with his first touch, getting his head to Coufal's cross and forcing a good save from Gartler. Sonny looks very eager and might even be a possible long-term deputy for Antonio. 

All in all a fine professional performance from a much-changed side, against a dispirited Vienna side who have sacked their manager. We win Group H while Spurs got battered in the Europa Conference at NS Mura. A good night all round. Irons!

Ben Johnson will play right

It's not often Moyes changes his best PL team, but it's significant that Coufal can't get his place back at the moment. Ben Johnson has come in and done brilliantly in his unfussy way. As befits the nephew of Paul Parker and cousin of Ledley King he's strong in the tackle and rarely has a player go past him. 

Perhaps Vladimir Coufal offers more going forward as he's such a good crosser of a moving ball, but Johnson is improving there too and he's still only 21. What is clear is that WHU now have really good competition for the right-back spot. Coufal will probably get a game at Rapid Vienna and his experience will be vital for the remainder of the season; but Johnson is clearly going to be one for the future. And who will get the nod for the away game at Man City? Will it be Coufal after having Jack Grealish in his pocket last season? And in the long term is there a way of playing both players in the same team?

Hammers savaged by hungry Wolves

Wolves 1 West Ham 0

Big news for this one is that Nigel has infiltrated the home fans and has made the game despite a flat battery and then relying on Millwall-supporting builders to help jump-start his motor. Presumably he's had a few pre-match pints with Noddy Holder, Robert Plant and his mate Adrian. If the Irons win we go second. What could possibly go wrong? 

West Ham start off quite encouragingly as Bowen heads just wide from Cresswell's cross. But after that it's mainly Wolves as Jimenez jinks wide when through and Fabianski has to tip over a Moutinho effort. Agent Nigel reports that Matt would enjoy the "Mike Dean's a w**ker!" chants and that Antonio looks isolated up front.

The second half sees Wolves all over us according to Nigel. Podence has a low effort saved by Fabianski and then the keeper has to make a fantastic flying save to deny the same player. The deserved breakthrough comes on 58 minutes as Podence pulls back to Jimenez who cleverly passes the ball into the corner from just outside the box.

At least West Ham have some sustained pressure towards the end as Vlasic, Lanzini and Yarmolenko come on. The best chance is when Antonio finds Bowen and after some neat footwork Jarrod fires over the bar when he should score. Vlasic just fails to connect with a Johnson cross and that's it.

Is this where so many games have finally caught up with WHU? Or is it simply a result of lots of our players being away on international duty — Antonio has scored a couple of cracking goals for Jamaica but has then had to be flown back by David Sullivan's private jet (never mind COP26) and must be tired. Our winning run couldn't last forever, Ogbonna is a big miss and Wolves have played well. But looking at the big picture we're still in a great position. Though with tiredness a factor Moyes will now need to shuffle the squad for Thursday's trip to Rapid Vienna.

The Boys of '76

It's best not to get too carried away. Thanks to Mystic Matt for pointing out that the last time West Ham had this successful a start to a season was in 1975-76 when West Ham ended up finishing 18th. WHU were unbeaten in their first nine league games but astonishingly didn't win for the final 16 matches, picking up only five points. The last victory that season was on January 24. The side did reach the Cup Winners Cup Final, losing 4-2 to Anderlecht, but it was a classic case of a team being distracted by a European run. I still have painful memories of watching the 6-1 away defeat at Arsenal on The Big Match. Had social media been around there would have been a lot of meltdowns. It was just the sort of flakiness that David Moyes has seemingly eliminated. Hopefully this time round we'll keep going!

Rapid decline

UEFA's decision to ban West Ham fans from attending the Europa League game at Rapid Vienna is mystifying. It seems there was a flare thrown on the pitch at Genk, but no other trouble was reported on the TV or in the press, bar a couple of Herberts singing anti-semitic songs on a plane, who have now been banned. While the trouble at the home match against Rapid Vienna appeared to be started by the Vienna fans trying to break out of the away section — and Rapid have remained unpunished. It's also very hard on the 1700 West Ham fans who have already bought tickets and booked transport. Perhaps it is a pre-emptive ban to prevent possible trouble but 1700 fans can't be that difficult to police or protect. West Ham have asked for clarification and surely this will be overturned. 

Was this the game where the London Stadium started to feel like home?

On Sunday the London Stadium started to feel like a football ground. It was certainly the best atmosphere we've had since the move. It's never going to be as intimate at Upton Park and it's still a challenge for the short-sighted, but when the crowd sing throughout and there's a feelgood atmosphere about the club, it makes a difference. 

Finally it felt like the London Stadium was an intimidating place for the opposition. Check out the deep roar of "Come on you Irons!" as Bowen takes the corner from which Zouma scores and the acapello version of Bubbles at the final whistle. And the fans behind the goal going mental after the second and third goals.

It helps that we've got a new song featuring West Ham being massive and Tottenham getting battered everywhere they go, which must make it difficult for Harry Kane to visit his local chippy. Squaring off the ends has also seen an improvement in atmosphere. Moyes always maintained that if he got the team right the atmosphere would improve and he was right. The wide open spaces of the London Stadium used to be an invitation to Man City and Liverpool to score four or five — now they will be worried about a visit to East London.

Bouncing Czech arrives

So Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has arrived with a 27 per cent investment in West Ham. I'll reserve judgement on how he made his money until there is more information, but in the short-term any investment is surely good in terms of keeping Declan Rice at the club and investing in a stronger squad that can challenge for the top four. Having been to the Liverpool match he'll be aware of the potential of the club and its stadium. WHU will also be in with a shout of buying any decent Sparta Prague players. Czech mates Soucek and Coufal have certainly done ok. Whether Kretinsky will eventually buy the club outright is unknown, though his share is now bigger than David Gold's, but for the moment it's potato salad all round. 

Bad news on Oggy

The injury news on Angelo Ogbonna is vey bad  — he has has an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which presumably could keep him out for the rest of the season. Clearly it was a mistake to try and play on against Liverpool. Craig Dawson is a very capable deputy yo play alongside Zouma and WHU have Issa Diop in reserve but it will stretch the squad even further. Young Jamal Baptiste might even be an option for some of the dead rubber games in the Europa League. 

A fourth centre back might now be necessary for a loan signing in the transfer window. We also need a deputy for Antonio as every player is only a game away from a bad injury. Meanwhile we'll miss Oggy's calm authority at the back. Good luck with your rehabilitation Angelo.

West Ham are Massive!

West Ham United 3 (three) Liverpool 2

It's a new lucky route to the game for this one, walking from Stamford Hill with Nicola via the Lea Navigation. We end up seeing Matt and Lisa's favourite cocktail bar the Lock Inn and having tea at a hipster cafe in Here East where two women discuss eating sour cherry juice and raw vegetables, as you do in Hackney.

Inside the stadium are Matt and Fraser, plus Essex contingent Scott and Joe, though Alison the Possible Jinx has opted to stay at home in Clacton. Unless that's her in Liverpool's goal. Michael and Nigel are back, having missed the Man City game, so we explain to them that West Hampstead play American football and all games are decided by penalties. We're also joined by DC's mate Damon, a Glaswegian Scouser.

Trevor Brooking reads In Flanders Field for Remembrance Sunday, and then we're off. Scott predicts that West Ham will win 3-2, as if that will happen, while Nigel and myself say we'd take a draw. 

ALISSON'S AIM IS NOT TRUE

It's a cracking atmosphere and a perfect start for West Ham after four minutes as Antonio wins a corner off Van Dyke. Fornals' inswinger bamboozles Alisson, who is distracted by the leaping Ogbonna, and flaps the ball into his own net. Alisson claims a foul but really he's not been strong enough. After VAR checks for a foul and handball the goal is given and the London Stadium erupts.

But have we scored too soon? The rest of the half sees Liverpool pen West Ham back and there's trepidation whenever Salah has the ball. There's a VAR check for a red card after a heavy lunge by Cresswell on Henderson. Aaron has played the ball but with the current rules is a little fortunate to get away with an out of control follow through. 

Ogbonna, having gone down injured once already, has to be replaced after being caught by Jota's elbow and on comes the dependable Dawson. Nigel gets the blame for saying that we have been lucky with injuries at the start of the match. The Hammers defend pretty well until Salah is hit by the Grealish sniper and draws a free kick on the edge of the box. Alexander-Arnold bends an unstoppable shot around the wall and into the top corner.

There's still time for Behrahma to get down the left and cross to Soucek who is blocked by a great tackle from Van Dyke.

It's not that bad to be drawing at half-time against Liverpool though, as the Reds and unbeaten in 25 games. Matt makes a crucial intervention at half time, giving Fraser a signed poster of his hero David Moyes, while Nigel sensibly opts not to eat his lucky banana.

ZOUMA MEETING

West Ham start the second half with much greater attacking verve. Cresswell wins a corner and from the set piece Dawson heads against the bar. While a neat Liverpool moves sees Mane volley straight at Fabianski.

Then the game really ignites. Rice nicks the ball and sets Bowen away. Jarrod speeds through four Liverpool players and plays in Fornals, while Antonio is distracting the rest of the Liverpool defence. Pablo's shot goes in off Alisson's hands and he runs to the Bobby Moore end to do his General salute and spark mayhem at the London Stadium.

Seven minutes later Antonio can't outpace Van Dyke but wins a corner off him. As the corner comes in Alisson is distracted by Antonio, Rice stands still to block a defender and the unmarked Zouma gets round the back to head home from a difficult angle and spark further series of delirium. David Moyes almost does another dad dance. Antonio has had an interesting game. He's not played that well but has been involved in all three goals. 

KOP THAT KLOPP

It's still going to be a very nervous final 15 minutes, though the general consensus among the bouncing Irons fans is that West Ham are massive wherever they go. At least until Nigel mentions that WHU were 3-2 up against Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup Final. Even the Vicar's Son stays positive, unlike the animated gentleman behind us. 

It gets even more nerve-wracking when sub Origi neatly swivels to pull one back with a fine finish after 83 minutes. Moyes responds by playing with double full backs, bringing on Coufal and Masuaku.

Late on Soucek is adjudged to have fouled on the edge of the box. From the free kick Mane escapes his markers and heads wide when he should score. 

The Irons survive four minutes of added time and then there's a huge roar as the ref blows his whistle. We go third above Liverpool! Nigel finally eats his lucky banana. And for the first time ever Scott has forecast the correct score. It's also been probably the noisiest atmosphere ever at the London Stadium.

The shouty tunnel is full of cries of "West Ham are massive!" as we head to the Refreshment Rooms for a pint or two of Meantime. Michael wonders if that is Star Wars on the TV before leaving early to go to a Seasick Steve concert. Though it's more Seasick Jurgen to judge by his bad loser comments on BBC Sport.

We're in such shock that we can't think of anything to moan about and instead discuss how many times Nigel has seen Motorhead and if there are any bands that carry on with just the drummer. This really feels like a statement win. Alisson has helped, but we've still beaten the unbeatable. Last season we lost out to the top four teams. This time round we've beaten Man City and Liverpool in succession. Blimey. And the BBC is asking if West Ham are really title contenders. What sort of thing is happening here? Come on you Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Johnson 7, Zouma 8, Ogbonna 7 (Dawson 7), Cresswell 7; Soucek 7, Rice 8, Benrahma 8 (Masuaku n/a), Fornals 8, Bowen 8 (Coufal n/a)); Antonio 7. 

Benrahma double sees West Ham qualify

KRC Genk 2 West Ham 2 (Europa League) 

It's Joe Cole and Carlton Cole on BT sport at home for this 5.45pm kick-off, though Fraser and Gavin have made it to the Lucky Pub. The Irons get off to the worst possible start after three minutes as Ito's clever through ball sees Paintsil (any relation to John?) get the wrong side of Diop to fire home. Areola has got a hand to it and should probably have saved it. It could easily be 3-0 after 20 minutes. Areola has to turn over a couple of headers and then Paintsil's run sets up Ito, who scuffs it wide.

West Ham are getting caught on the break and the back five isn't working. But as Lanzini takes a more central role the Hammers slowly improve and create chances. Dawson has a header tipped over and a fine cross by Masuaku is almost prodded home by Benrahma. Paintsil forces another good save from Areola and just before the break Antonio has an effort cleared off the line. 

Moyes will surely have given the side a bit of a rollicking at half-time in his 1000th game as a gaffer and West Ham look much more purposeful at the start of the second half.

THE SAID SHOW

Moyes goes for it, bringing on Soucek, Bowen and Fornals in the 58th minute and West Ham look a much better team. Restoring the Soucek/Rice partnership immediately brings more control to the midfield and Fornals gives some energy to our pressing. A minute later the Irons equalise. Lanzini plays a fine through ball, Coufal crosses and Said Benrahma fires through the keeper's legs. A just reward for the Algerian who has been West Ham's best player on the night.

West Ham press for a winner as Coufal fires wide after a fine Cresswell cross and then Benrahma almost wriggles through. Meanwhile the away fans are telling the watching audience that Tottenham get battered wherever they go. In the 82nd minute it appears game over as Benrahma pushes the ball one side of his full back, runs round the other side of him and toe-pokes home for a fine individual goal.

LEVEL PEGGING

But all that changes three minutes from the end as Soucek heads a cross into his own net. Tomas is unlucky as nine times out of ten it would have gone out for a corner but this time it turns into a glancing header past Areola. He needed a goal, but maybe not that one.

West Ham almost make it 3-2 in the final stages as Coufal's cross just misses Fornals. But a draw away to the best of the rest in the group isn't a bad result and West Ham are now guaranteed to be in the top two of the group, even if we haven't won it as yet. 

After the match Declan Rice tells the cameras that the squad have presented David Moyes with a signed shirt to mark his 1000th game. Presumably the slap-up dinner at the Best Cafe is yet to come.

The only downside is the following day's news that some Herberts have been filmed singing that anti-semitic song about Spurs on a plane to Belgium. We have plenty of songs without using that one. But overall, considering the squad rotation, another positive night in Europe and ten points from four games is encouraging. We'll be in Europe after Christmas for the first time since 1981. Irons!

Is Antonio the best striker in the Premier League?

Interesting piece in Saturday's Times by James Gheerbrant, pointing out that on stats Antonio is the best striker in the Premier League in 2021. He topped the list for expected goals and expected assists, while this season only Mo Salah has scored more non-penalty goals. He also makes the point that because Antonio didn't break into the Premier League until he was 25 and has been used as a utility player he is never taken as seriously as Kane, Salah, Mane or Ronaldo. 

Gheerbrant writes: "When I think about Antonio, I know that he’s a great player, but on some instantaneous, subconscious level, my mind also computes: “West Ham utility man uncapped by England, Nottingham Forest workhorse, no major trophies, pace and power, Sheffield Wednesday.” The lucidity of data has a way of melting all of this away. By any objective measure, Antonio has been one of the best players in football over the past ten months. Is that really so impossible?"

Much of football is about perception but the data suggests that Michail, at the age of 31, is up there with the best. 

Hammers Halloween horror for Villa as Irons score four

Aston Villa 1 West Ham 4

A good turnout at Mabel's Tavern for this one, with Lisa and Matt, Michael the Brigadier's Biographer and a tardy Nigel all present. Barely has my Neck Oil been supped before West are ahead. Declan Rice pings a good ball out to Ben Johnson and rather than cross he cuts inside to fire a long-range left foot shot past Martinez. The spirit among the squad is shown by the group celebration, a parody of Ben's dodgy schooldays dancing moves which recently went viral on twitter.

Bowen has a goalbound effort headed away by Konsa, but slowly Villa come back into it. They equalise when Buendia gets the wrong side of Fornals and crosses for the unmarked Watkins to shoot past Fabianski, who gets a foot to it but fails to block. Three mistakes in one goal that will surely anger Moyes.

The camera now turns to Dean Smith in the Villa dugout who seems to be getting advice from a Rick Wakeman lookalike, which pleases prog rocker Nigel. West Ham still look the mote likely side going forward and score at a good time before the break. The overlapping Cresswell distracts the defence as Benrahma cuts inside to pass to Rice on the edge of the box who fires a low shot into the corner for his third of the season.

It all kicks of in the second half after 50 minutes. Fornals is felled by an arm in the face from Hause, the ball finds Antonio who flicks on to Bowen, who is then brought down on the edge of the box by last man Konsa. Without any sound in the pub we assume that it's the forearm smash that has resulted in a red but it's actually Konsa who has gone for the professional foul. It should undoubtedly have been a double sending off — it seems incredible that Hause's assault wasn't deemed a red by VAR.

With ten men Villa start to play better and Watkins hits the bar with a header. West Ham are getting sloppy with their passing and don't seem able to calm the game down, much to the chagrin of Mystic Matt, who then doubts the wisdom of bringing on Lanzini, as Nigel suggests to Lisa that a wellness sojourn in San Francisco might be required.

There's another fracas as Fornals and Nakamba slide in for a 50-50 ball, made to look worse by Nakamba taking six rolls across the turf. The team spirit is again shown by Lanzini and Bowen getting involved in a pushing match with the Villa players to defend their team-mate as Pablo gets a yellow.

But this West Ham team find a way to win. On 80 minutes Antonio is again clattered but manages to flick the ball on to Bowen. Jarrod races clear to shoot, Martinez saves but Pablo Fornals is on hand to score from the rebound and reprise Fabian Balbuena's General salute.

It gets better. Two minutes later Antonio drifts past Hause and keeps calm to find Lanzini in the box. Manuel unselfishly passes across the box to Bowen who taps home for a great team goal. What an October its been for the Irons.

In a desperate bid to make the blog, Nigel leaves during added time to race to a gig by Michael Schenker the ex-Scorpions guitarist. There was an iffy patch in the second half, but another great win and we remain fourth. The next league game is against Liverpool so we can't get too carried away, but it's starting to feel like a special season. The only thing that could make it better would be if Tottenham sacked their manager in the morning... Irons!

It's good to talk

Some interesting quotes from Jesse Lingard last week. Jesse revealed that when he was getting a lift with Mark Noble and Aaron Cresswell he took his phone out in the car but was immediately told by Nobes to put it away as at West Ham the players talk to each other. 

Lingard told the Players Tribune: “On the plane, I would normally whack the headphones on and listen to music, but Nobes and the rest of the guys wouldn’t stand for it.It was like that everywhere at West Ham, proper conversations about everything. No phones, no social media. No more mm-hmm. If we were having dinner at a hotel, we’d stay down there for ages just talking. It helped us bond as a team, and personally, it helped me a lot.” 

Could this be the secret of West Ham's recent success? It's simply that the players have become good mates.

Sphinx can only get better?

The Guardian reports that Czech billionaire lawyer and businessman Daniel Kretinsky is in talks to buy a 27 per cent stake in West Ham. He's currently the co-owner and president of Sparta Prague, so at least Soucek, Coufal and Kral would feel at home. Though presumably he could not buy a majority share in West Ham without selling Sparta Prague.

Kretinsky is known as the "Czech Sphinx" for his "inscrutable business manner". By the current very low bar of the PL fit and proper person test, any investor who doesn't kill people would be a bonus. Kretinsky also has investments in Le Monde, Royal Mail and Sainsbury's, which might keep WHU's postal and shopping bills down. Hopefully the likes of David Conn are doing their research on how he made his money, but if he's legit then any injection of cash would certainly help the club progress. We might even be able to buy a second striker.

Beating City… it's so good, so good!

West Ham 0 Manchester City 0 (Carabao Cup) (West Ham win 5-3 on pens) 

It's down to the diehards for this £15 spectacular. Hipsters Matt and Lisa have been drinking cocktails and enjoying vegan burgers at the Lock Inn at Hackney Wick, Fraser joins us in the ground, Nigel is away curating his heavy metal collection and Michael the Whovian is trying to reverse the polarity of the neutron flow while visiting his dad. In a testament to the loyalty of West Ham fans it's another sell-out, despite being the third home game in six days. 

The line-ups seem ominous, with City fielding a very strong side and West Ham resting Antonio, Rice and most of the first team. With only Yarmolenko up front the Hammers sit deep early on, though Noble does get a shot away at Steffen, with City then breaking and Dawson making a saving tackle to foil De Bruyne. 

The Mancunians enjoy 64 per cent possession in the 90 minutes and fashion two late chances in the first half. Palmer has a shot saved by the feet of Areola and Ake misses a good headed chance after a free kick. Mystic May suggests that penalties are our best chance of winning it.

It's a lively start to the second half as Masuaka fires a cross come shot wide and Gundogan shoots wide when he should score. But the Irons are starting to play with belief as Masuaku fires a shot at Steffen and Yarmolenko 's effort from the rebound is blocked by a last-ditch tackle.

WE'RE NOT REALLY HERE?

Then it becomes the Areola show. The Fonz first saves De Bruyne's deflected shot with his feet and then makes a brilliant reaction save to keep out Stones' header. At the other end good work by Noble, Cresswell and Vlasic sets up Soucek only for Tomas to slice wide. He can't buy a goal at the moment.

Moyes senses he can win it, bringing on Fornals, Benrahma and Bowen (who is apparently good friends with Dani Dyer). Rather more ominously City bring on Grealish, Foden and Jesus. Areola then has to save with his feet from Gundogan and then tips over a rasping effort from Zinchenko. 

"Come on you Irons!" reverberates around the stadium as the atmosphere goes up a notch. Surely we can't knock out the side that has won the Carabao Cup four years in succession?West Ham have a late chance to win it as Fornals sets up Soucek for another slice wide.

The three minutes of added time get rather nerve-wracking as City win a free-kick. The  initial effort is blocked and then Jesus plants a header straight at Areola. Former Culture Club drummer Jonathan Moss blows his whistle and it's a penalty shoot-out.

HE SHOOTS HE SCORES!

As we've all know since the 2006 FA Cup Final, West Ham don't win penalty shoot-outs. But what's this? Noble confidently puts the first penalty down the middle to score. Then Foden hits his penalty wide. Bowen scores even though Steffen gets a hand to it, before City pull one back. Up steps Craig Dawson, who puts his body on the line every game and shows true bottle here, to power home a typically no-nonsense penalty. Cresswell converts the fourth, then Grealish scores and it's 4-3. If Benrahma nets the fifth penalty we've won it. Said steps up and confidently dispatches it into the top corner before running to his family in the corner and sparking mayhem.

If the theories of quantum physics are correct and there are a series of multiverses, then we seem to have entered a different one where West Ham win penalty shoot-outs. Perhaps like the City fans we're not really here. City have lost their first Carabao Cup tie in five years. Bubbles and Sweet Caroline plays on the PA. Three wins in six days! 

The spirit in the side has been immense. Yes, City have battered us at times, but Areola has been brilliant in goal and Diop and Dawson have been excellent at the back. Winning has become a habit.

A great night is rounded off by finding the Black Bull is half-empty as all the people with kids have gone home. It's cash only, but we have enough to order pints of tasty Titanic porter, having sunk the luxury cruise ship that was Man City. No doubt we'll get Liverpool away in the next round, but having seen off both Manchester clubs we'll take on anybody. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 9; Johnson 8, Dawson 8, Diop 8, Cresswell 7, Masuaku 6 (Fornals 7); Noble 7, Soucek 6, Vlasic 6 (Benrahma 8) Lanzini 6 (Coufal 6); Yarmolenko 6 (Bowen 6).

It's happened again....

West Ham United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0

It's down to myself, Matt, Lisa and Fraser, Scott and his mate Dave in the Billy Bonds Stand. Nigel is attending the 75th birthday party of CQ's cousin in Terry and June land, waiting for Iron Maiden to make the party mix. While Renaissance Fan Michael is at a Faure Requiem featuring Bach plus Fantasia on a Theme, presumably written about West Ham getting into the Champions League places, and Vision of a Garden, probably composed about the Central.

Matt wonders if Kane is sulking after missing the chance to be WHU's back-up striker. He'd have definitely got a few games in the Europa League game and the odd ten minutes at the end of league games when Antonio needed to be rested.  

It's an even first half. Antonio causes Romero problems with his strength, one surge setting up Fornals for a smart volley well saved by Lloris. Michail then cuts inside well only to slice wide when well placed. Spurs do come into the game more after the first 20 minutes, with Ndombole going down to heavy boos after a fine tackle by Zouma. 

Son shoots at Fabianski when through and then after Kane finds himself up against Cresswell, the Spurs striker has a header excellently saved by Fabianski. There's still time for Soucek to head wide an inviting cross but it's goalless at half-time. 

The second half sees Kane just miss an inviting cross as the game appears to be heading for a a goalless draw. Benrahma isn't getting any joy against Emerson Royal and Bowen is running into cul-de-sacs much to the chagrin of the Vicar's Son beside me. A great run by Rice is ended by Antonio straying offside.

SPURS CAUGHT IN THE MATRIX

But the home crowd are roused after Fornals is fouled by Romero and then Pablo uncharacteristically reacts to whatever Romero has said, provoking a mini-fracas. The game is settled in the 72nd minute. Fornals does well to win the ball back and get in a deflected shot that Lloris tips over for a corner. Cresswell swings it in and Antonio pokes home. For some reason he's being marked by Kane — West Ham's striker shouldn't be too difficult to spot for Spurs' centre backs as we only have one. Cue mayhem and Antonio doing a celebration from The Matrix.

It's a stressful final 20 minutes, but Spurs don't create any chances as Zouma leads the way with some hefty clearances. Johnson isn't as good as Coufal going forward but sticks to his job at the back and wins some important tackles. Antonio almost makes another as Benrahma's effort is saved by Lloris. We haven't played that well, but Moyes has instilled an ability to snatch results on such days. It's good to see the players come to the fans at the end with Oggy punching the air and Moyes joining in.

We decide to try the refurbished Lord Napier at Hackney Wick. It's a proper old pub but will it pass the Nigel credibility test? We enjoy the "Shithouse to Public House" sign behind the bar and take pints of Camden Pale up to the roof terrace. Hipster couples out for a quiet Sunday drink look a little bemused at the crowd of geezers singing, "Tottenham get battered wherever they go!"

A good day is rounded off by the news that Man United are losing 5-0 at home to Liverpool. Lisa suggests that Ronaldo, like Kane, must be regretting not becoming West Ham's back-up striker. We just have to hope that United don't try to poach the promising young gaffer doing so well at West Ham. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Johnson 6, Zouma 8, Ogbonna 7, Cresswell 7; Soucek 6, Rice 8, Fornals 7, Benrahma 6, Bowen 6 (Lanzini n/a); Antonio 7.

Perfect Europa start continues

West Ham 3 KRC Genk 0 (Europa League)

Arriving at Hackney Wick there's time to scout out the Lord Napier, the "Shithouse to Penthouse" ruin that has now been re-opened as a proper pub — with architectural correspondent Nigel approving of the green tiles on the exterior. 

Elsewhere Matt and Lisa have been imbibing cocktails in the Olympic village and Nigel is quaffing a quick half with his mate Martin in the stadium concourse. We're joined by Fraser, though Michael the Thespian is AWOL presumably watching esoteric fringe theatre or knocking out another play.

It's a decent crowd of nearly 46,000 as the flame-throwers go off again and our squad side emerges on to the pitch. Cresswell is doing well getting down the left but at first the Irons' build-up seems ponderous. Genk's lively winger Ito gets away down the left and crosses for Bongonda to head home, before the goal is disallowed for offside. 

At the other end Soucek has a header saved and Bowen scuffs a fine cross by Cresswell. Vlasic is doing some neat lay-offs but still seems a little unsure of his role wide on the left. Genk look a better side than Rapid Vienna and are causing problems with blonde winger Ito prominent. Areola also has to race from his area to make a last-ditch clearance. The WHU keeper is lucky when he completely misses a cross and Onuachu heads wide of the empty goal. The fans of de Smurfen start to bounce up and down in the away section. 

It's down to a set-piece to calm WHU nerves. In added time at the end of the first half Cresswell swings over a corner and Dawson gets his head on to it, the ball arcing over the leaping defender on the line. A good moment for Dawson, who has been a little unlucky to lose his place in the league side to Kurt Zouma.

The Irons start the second half slowly but then come to life after 57 minutes as Cresswell's free kick is headed in off the bar by Issa Diop. A goal for both of WHU's reserve centre backs. Two minutes later Yarmolenko and Lanzini find Jarrod Bowen, who runs from deep to fire home a shot that the keeper should have saved. The first European goal for a player who was in the Conference with Hereford a few years ago.

Vlasic has a good chance blocked and there's still time for young Dan Chesters to come on for his debut in the 87th minute. Despite being regularly watched in the Under-23s by Matt the lad looks confident, wins a couple of tackles and plays a few passes. Meanwhile sources close to Lisa are suggesting that West Ham could win Group H, though we couldn't possibly comment. But three wins out of three and three clean sheets in Europe isn't a bad start. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6; Johnson 6, Diop 7, Dawson 7, Cresswell 7 (Fredericks 6); Rice 7 (Noble 6), Soucek 6, Lanzini 6 (Chesters n/a), Vlasic 6 (Fornals 5); Yarmolenko 6, Bowen 7 (Benrahma 5).

Oggy secures gritty win at Everton

Everton 0 West Ham 1

Managed to watch most of this while also supervising out local Play Street, as you do. West Ham started well and looked immediately sharp with Rice dominating the midfield against an Everton side lacking Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. 

Iwobi missed with an air-shot after looking likely to score, but at the other end Soucek had a goal correctly disallowed for offside after Bowen's shot was parried and Fornals curled wide when he should have hit the target. Bar the odd dangerous cross from Townsend flicked wide by Rondon the Toffees failed to seriously worry the Irons' defence.

The second half saw more gritty, attritional action. The winner was always likely to come from a set piece and it arrived in the 74th minute when Ogbonna got on the end of Bowen's fine inswinging corner to score his first of the season.

After that the Hammers could have had a second as Pickford tipped away Bowen's shot and late on saved from Antonio. The only blemish was the facial injury suffered by Soucek. Credit to Zouma for some fine blocks and Ben Johnson for filling in at right-back for the injured Coufal. It wasn't pretty but it was resilient and after the Brentford game is a great result against an in-form side. Irons!

Ten games in...

The first ten games of a season are normally a good indicator of a team's chances. Overall it's been positive for the Irons, with notable wins against Newcastle, Leicester and Leeds. Progress in the Europa League has been very satisfactory, with a pair of 2-0 wins so far, while the spirit in the squad was shown by the second string winning 1-0 at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup. On the downside the Irons have only won one in five of their last league matches and succumbed to late goals against Man United and Brentford, though were a little unlucky in both games, particularly with Noble's last minute penalty saved by De Gea. 

Hopefully there is more to come from the new signings, though encouragingly we have four solid centre backs who can be rotated in Zouma, Ogbonna, Dawson and Diop, and it's still not clear which is the best pairing. We've yet to see the potential of Vlasic who is still bedding in, though Kral looks like he could be a useful substitute for Rice and Soucek. The form of Soucek has been worrying but will surely return. While Areola in goal looks like he has bags of potential.

What's been more evident than ever is that the side is hugely reliant on Antonio and we have to keep him fit. Bowen is a willing stopgap, but not really a striker. At least Antonio didn't travel with Jamaica during the international break. 

Everton away will present another big test. Are we going to be among the best of the rest in mid-table or can WHU really challenge for the top six? It's been a long time since the Hammers had two good seasons in a row, and still competing in all competitions, it's looking reasonably optimistic so far if Moyes' men can overcome the recent blip in results.

Be careful what you wish for

It's a pretty sad day when Newcastle United can be used for sportswashing by the Saudi Arabian state, via its sovereign wealth fund, even if the state won't be involved in the day to day running of the club. It's a move rightly condemned by Amnesty International. I wouldn't want the regime whose 'rogue' hit-squad murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi anywhere near West Ham. There are plenty of people who want Sullivan, Gold and Brady out, but with the way football has gone, and bearing in mind the ridiculous lack of ethics in the Premier League's fit and proper person's test, we'd likely end up with someone far worse. 

Sullivan and Gold have made mistakes, but they don't participate in human rights abuses, unless we count Sully's dodgy Russian coat. The new stadium was oversold and had a lot of initial problems. Some of GSB's mistakes have resulted from giving the fans what they want, ie appointing Pellegrini and signing lots of overpaid Fancy Dan attackers. They got that wrong and also blundered in appointing Avram Grant, but they appear to have got it right with Moyes this time round and have found money for £50m worth of signings this summer, so deserve some credit for that. Any likely buyer is going to be from the Middle East, Russia or America without any great love of the club and will probably have some very morally dubious history. We should be careful what we wish for.

The only real solution to football's ills is to move to something like Germany's 51:49 model where fans are guaranteed a 51 per cent ownership of their clubs.

Getting the best from Rice and Soucek

David Moyes has admitted that Tomas Soucek hasn't found his best form yet this season and appears to be looking leggy after playing in the Euros on top of a demanding season last time round. Is part of the problem that Declan Rice is getting forward too often and leaving Soucek as more of a defensive shield?

Yes, Declan can add goals to his game and has already scored twice in the Europa League, but Rice venturing further upfield seems to have detracted from Soucek's scoring ability, since his only goal so far has been the rebound from a penalty against Newcastle. Maybe there's a case for resting Soucek and giving Kral some more games.

Soucek did have a goal disallowed at Leeds and could have scored a late header against Brentford, so perhaps if he gets one then his confidence will return. Or maybe he just needs to eat more potato salad. Whatever, the two-week break might be a good time for WHU's array of coaches to consider some tweaks to central midfield. Rice has made his name as a holding midfielder and as with England, perhaps he needs to restrict his runs forward or alternate with Soucek. There's nothing too much wrong, but the balance doesn't look quite right at the moment.

Beaten at the last by a bus stop in Hounslow

West Ham 1 Brentford 2

The day begins with Nicola and myself reminiscing about Brentford Nylons and Alan Freeman (you have to be a certain age to remember the ads). This it's on to the Best Cafe after first chatting with Stop! Hammer Time podcast guru Phil Whelans on the Overground.

Inside the cafe are Matt and Nigel, who is annoyed to be missing Altrincham v Grimsby while in Manchester next week. Then it's down Matt's alleyways of doom past the tower block and on to the London Stadium (where Matt narrowly avoids another programme disaster having arrived without cash and then being loaned £3.50) to meet Fraser, Michael, Scott and returning foul-weather fan Alison in her first game since lockdown. Meanwhile Steve the Cornish Postie has overslept and missed his train in the biggest own goal since Iain Dowie scored at Southport.

When Michael remarks that Ben Johnson is the first literary Hammer since Alan Dickens we spend a lot of time searching for players with writers' names and come up with Jermain 'Daniel' Defoe, James 'Wilkie' Collins, Robert 'Graham' Green, Ronnie 'Frank Cotrrell' Boyce, Scott 'Dorothy' Parker and Trevor 'Sheridan' Morley, among others. 

Worryingly Nigel predicts that we'll lose today. It's a very slow start from the Hammers who appear to be suffering the much-predicted Europa League hangover. Mbeumo grazes the bar after a couple of minutes and then Toney has a volley saved by Fabianski. Brentford are strong in the tackle and get players forward quickly, while Toney is looking too strong for Zouma.

NEVR MIND THE BUS STOPS

Zouma does have a header just wide from a Cresswell corner but it's Brentford who take a deserved lead. Toney plays a first-time through ball and Canos who has got beyond Zouma, fires against Fabianski. It's a good save but Mbeumo scores with the rebound even though Fabianksi has clawed it back from just behind the line. "We're just a bus stop in Hounslow!" sing the gleeful away fans.

A crisper passing move between Fornals and Antonio sees Benrahma curl an effort narrowly wide, but it's clear Moyes has a lot of talking to do at the break. While Brentford are winning no friends with their time-wasting as Raya takes forever with his goal-kicks and players continually fall to the floor.

Things are so bad Nigel eats his 'lucky' banana at half-time in a bid to restore our fortunes. The Irons look a lot better in the second half. Antonio is crudely wrestled to the ground by Jorgensen and Benrahma's free kick is tipped over by Raya. Coufal gets forward to good effect, wins a challenge and crosses for Bowen to head wide when he should score. Antonio does well on the other flank to get a cross in, but first Fornals' effort is is blocked and then Coufal's shot is well saved by Raya.

JARROD MARCH

"I'm losing faith in our ability to score from corners," announces Mystic Matt. That does the trick. Cresswell's corner is headed out by a defender to Bowen who rifles a low shot into the corner and runs to the Bobby Moore Stand. His first goal in 16 games. A purple smoke bomb adds to the enjoyment.

It looks like the Hammers might even win, though a point would not be a disaster. Rice gets in a great cross only for Antonio and Soucek to distract each other and both just fail to connect. The lack of subs is a puzzle though.

The game appears to be drifting towards a draw in the 94th minute when Ogbonna gives away a free kick on the edge of the box. Jansson gets above Coufal to power in a header, Fabianski saves but the ball drops kindly to Wissa who thumps home the winner and disappears beneath a mound of yellow shirts in front of the Hounslow away crew.

We slump away in despond and with the Refreshment rooms closed try Escape, a hipster pub full of board games.The prices are a bit steep but the Gamma Ray is good and a "nice ambiance" comment inspires chants of, "You're going home in a London ambiance!" Then we turn to naming more literary Hammers and West Ham film directors (Scott 'Alan' Parker, Martin 'Woody' Allen, Robert 'Spike' Lee, Paul 'Jean-Luc' Goddard, Kevin 'Christopher' Nolan, etc. It's better than discussing the game.

After three wins in a week something had to go wrong, though West Ham deserved a point on their second half half showing and Brentford will surprise a lot of teams. We have to forget this one and go again after the international break.

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Coufal 6, Zouma 5, Ogbonna 5, Cresswell 6; Rice 6, Soucek 5, Fornals 6, Benrahma 7, Bowen 7; Antonio 7.