There's a crowd of fans taking selfies by the new statue of Moore, Hurst and Peters with the Cup Winners' Cup. It's not dissimilar to the old World Cup statue in Barking Road and should add something homely to the London Stadium. Presumably the statue of Andriy Yarmolenko has been delayed in the DPD van.
Inside the stadium there's been a disaster — Matt has failed to get a programme and hasn't been quite comprehensive enough in his knowledge of Hammers who have played in Austria trivia. He's identified Marco Arnautovic, Emanuel Pogatez and Nikica Jelavic, but strangely forgotten about the great Raggy Soma, who played for Rapid and features in tonight's programme. Better news is that Matt was in Colchester on Tuesday to see the Under-21 side lose; the home side included a sub appearance from young Freddie Sears, who must be at least 18 by now.
Michael the Mesmerist and Nigel arrive from pre-match drinking in the Stratford Theatre East and the Abbey Well, while Fraser also joins us ready to wave a souvenir plastic flag as part of the crowd mosaic. We're treated to more flame throwers and a light display reminiscent of 1975 disco nights at Ilford's Room at the Top club.
It's the Irons' first ever group fixture in the Europa League Thankfully there are no Romanians in this competition says Matt, as Romanian sides have knocked us out in three of the last four Irons European excursions.
WOULDN'T IT BE RICE?
There's a lively crowd of Austrian ultras bouncing around in the away end and their Rapid side sport rather a nice green and white kit with a sash. With seven changes from Saturday, West Ham start strongly. Rice heads against the post from Cresswell's free kick and then Dawson heads Cressy's corner against the post.
Rapid have a shot blocked before the break but generally it's looking comfortable for West Ham. The feelgood factor is increased by an unlikely half-time cameo from DC, who has ventured away from the dugout side and into the Billy Bonds Stand.
But the second half sees West Ham's energy levels drop and complacency set in. Yarmolenko fades and Noble is getting bypassed. We rely on Rice, Diop and Dawson to keep our lead intact. Moyes is so concerned he has to bring on Bowen, Soucek, Lanzini and Fornals. It looks like Rapid will equalise when the ref awards a penalty after an apparent trip by Ben Johnson. But after strong complaints from the players, the ref looks at VAR and sees a blatant dive.
BENRAHMA DRAMA
Mystic Matt's patience is sorely tested when after a great through ball by Fornals, sub Jarrod Bowen rounds keeper and defender only to blast over an open goal. It's even more worrying when Vienna bring on their Third Man. Without the calming influence of Lisa, Matt is lambasting Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma, Lanzini and most of our side, apart from the Phonse, who hasn't had to make a serious save in goal.
But when West Ham remember to attack we have a better final ten minutes. Fornals has a powerful shot tipped over and in the fifth minute of added time Bowen sets up Benrahma who expertly passes the ball past a defender and into the corner of the net. Not pretty in the second half but we've done a professional job and top Group H.
With the Refreshment Rooms closed it's off to the Stratford Theatre East bar, where Nigel receives a text from CQ saying that "Vienna means nothing to me". Then it's time for Matt and Nigel to discuss dodgy journalists and Fraser to reminisce about interviewing Matthew Perry. Michael asks what is this TV series called Friends?
Eventually we're chucked out and retreat to the station dreaming of being in Europe after Christmas. Three wins in a week — we could get used to this.
PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6; Johnson 6, Dawson 7, Diop 7, Cresswell 6; Noble 5 (Soucek 5), Rice 8, Vlasic 5 (Lanzini 5), Benrahma 7; Yarmolenko 5 (Fornals 6), Antonio 6 (Bowen 6).
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