Vlasic needs to step up

During the Spurs defeat my pal Matt speculated that Nikola Vlasic is currently one of the most disappointing signings in West Ham's history. That might be overstating it a little, but it's certainly true that at £25 million he's had very little impact on our season so far apart from scoring the fourth goal against a tired Watford and making a goal for Yarmolenko in the away win at Rapid Vienna. 

To be more positive it has to be remembered that Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma didn't look that good in their debut seasons at the club, but both significantly improved in their second seasons. Vlasic has looked stronger in recent weeks and a Watford fan who attended the Liverpool versus West Ham match told me he thought Vlasic was our best player in the first half. 

Perhaps he is taking time to adapt to the Premier League and David Moyes' demands, but with Bowen's injury worse than thought Nikola really needs to step up right now. It's worrying that Moyes didn't start him against Spurs. In the last nine league games and the Europa League game against Lyon we're going to need Vlasic to contribute. He didn't make it in his season at Everton and after a more productive spell at Spartak Moscow, Vlasic needs to prove that he can produce in the PL.

Tired Hammers undone by Kane and Son

Tottenham 3 West Ham 1

Off to watch this one at the World's End with Mystic Matt and a pint of Neck Oil. Agent Nigel is at the match undercover among the Spurs fans. We're not expecting too much after the exertions of extra time on Thursday and with such a thin squad, and indeed the Hammers start poorly. 

After eight minutes Arthur Masuaku is dispossessed on the touchline, Kane drifts through three defenders and gets in a cross which Son misses but deflects in off Zouma's heel. We almost equalise immediately. Antonio capitalises on a poor back pass and uses his strength to get in a great shooting position before firing just past the post.

Kane is causing Rice and Soucek all sorts of problems by dropping deep and another fluid move sees Son strike the outside of the post. It's two when Kane finds Son with a fine pass and Son's effort flies past Fabianski after taking a slight deflection off Zouma. Cresswell hasn't helped by playing them onside at the start of the move. There's a brief interruption to play while Nigel tries to tie himself to the goalpost in protest. 

After half an hour Spurs give away a needless corner. Dawson gets his head on Cresswell's ball and the unmarked Bernrahma fires home a smart volley. Two-one and game on.

The second half sees Kane force a good save from Fabianski but then a long spell of West Ham possession with Fornals and Yarmolenko coming on for Antonio and Masuaku. Benrahma is looking confident and the Irons' best chance comes when Cresswell's cross is side-footed over by Antonio when he should hit the target.

Against that Kane misses a great chance chipping over when through. Yarmolenko can't hold the ball up and WHU never really look like getting anything out of it as Hojbjerg and Bentancur play well in midfield. In the 88th minute the Hammers concede a schoolboy goal as both centre backs go for same ball and Kane flicks on for Son to score, while Cresswell is again playing him onside.

But as Moyes says, it's been a good week overall with wins against Villa and Sevilla. What this game proves is that West Ham won't challenge for the top four without signing four of five quality players in the summer. We're now seventh and our target is returning to the top six and winning the Europa League now. At least two weeks' rest will hopefully allow Bowen to return and the players to regroup. Irons!

Tony Carr Newham Bookshop signing

West Ham coaching legend Tony Carr will be signing copies of his new memoir A Lifetime in Football at West Ham United in the Newham Bookshop on Saturday 2 April at 2pm. The man who coached Mark Noble, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Steve Potts, James Tomkins and many other legends through the West Ham Academy also reveals in the book the truth about his departure from the club. Should be a great event.

West Ham are massive on night of European glory

West Ham 2 Sevilla 0 (after extra time) (Europa League)

It's an early start after a mini-break in Keswick, first a bus to Penrith and then a train to London, to see West Ham try and overturn a one-goal deficit in the Europa League. 

In other good news Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has just been released from six years in an Iranian jail and is taking time to adjust to the fact that instead of fighting relegation West Ham are indeed Massive.

The choruses of Bubbles coming out of the stadium indicate the fans are up for this. Matt is in a programme crisis having discovered the club hasn't printed enough, while we're joined by Lisa, a tardy Nigel munching a giant sausage, and two rows back Fraser and Steve the Cornish Postie, arriving at the London Stadium by special delivery. Michael is in Hove on a writer's retreat penning a presumably Massive play.

The crowd is fired-up pre-kickoff by a very over-excited DJ Tony Perry playing West Ham are Massive and then a light-show and flame-throwers. It's an intimidating cauldron of sound and the best atmosphere at the London Stadium since the move.

Injury doubts Antonio and Cresswell are back. West Ham press early on and the team look decidedly up for it, but Sevilla are calm in possession and after 25 minutes almost double their lead as Areola makes a great one-handed save to deny En-Nesyri's header.

BOUNCING SOUCEK

At the other end a lovely through ball from Benrahma releases Antonio, whose effort is blocked by Bono and a great block from Gudelj denies Soucek on the followup. After 39 minutes the moment we've been waiting for arrives. Antonio does really well to get a cross in through three defenders and Tomas Soucek rises above Augustinsson to power a header across goal and past Bono into the far corner. The London Stadium erupts, David Moyes does a dad dance and the whole ground is bouncing to West Ham are Massive. It's not such a Beautiful Day for Bono now,

At half time we find Clacton Irons Alison and Scott in the concourse, with Scott predicting a 2-0 scoreline, as if that will happen. The second half begins with Rice surging forwards and setting up Soucek for a parried shot and then missing the rebound himself. Lanzini has a shot blocked and West Ham force a series of corners but in the last quarter Sevilla start to look more composed and with their experience will surely fancy a result in extra-time.

Extra-time arrives and whatever happens we've come a long way since the Burnley game when Fraser ordered his lads to invade the pitch. Nigel remarks how this side, so tired recently, has the ability to raise its game for quality opponents. Dawson and Zouma have headed everything away at the back, Johnson has nullified Martial, Benrahma has been lively and skilful, Rice has been imperious and Antonio has been a constant threat in the channels. It's hard to believe Kidderminster caused WHU more problems than Sevilla.

YARMY ARMY

Showing extraordinary resilience West Ham continue to press, despite Sevilla using more subs. Dawson flicks on a corner and Soucek heads wide rom a tight angle. We're thinking about who will take penalties when in the 111st minute Antonio holds the ball up yet again, nutmegs it to Lanzini who in turn finds Fornals. Pablo's shot is parried by Bono right into the path of Yarmolenko who calmly taps home with his left foot and points up to the sky. The London Stadium erupts again.

It's a tremendously nervous final five minutes but it's fitting the ball is with Yarmolenko in the corner at the final whistle. Mark Noble leaps on Declan Rice, Yarmy gives his shirt to a fan with a Ukrainian flag in the crowd and an animated David Moyes is on the pitch coming over to punch the air in front of the Billy Bonds Stand.

The only downside is the pubs will be shutting. After an abortive attempt to find the boat bar on the River Lea we find ourselves kettled at the station at 11.15pm accompanied by chants of "Chelsea are Bankrupt!" and "Oh Christian Dailly you are the love of my life!"

I make the last Overground out of Saigon while Matt and Lisa are the wrong side of the sliding doors. They eventually end up in Holloway Road where the entire Irish community seems to be celebrating our win. By midnight Fraser is celebrating in Ilford, Nigel is having a Kew Gardens knees-up with the west London Irons, and at Highbury and Islington the station is echoing to Bubbles before I find a welcome bottle of porter in my fridge. 

We're in our first European quarter-final since 1981 — with only one striker — and have just seen one of the most memorable nights in West Ham's history. It's Lyon next and anything seems possible now. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 8: Johnson 8, Zouma 8, Dawson 8, Johnson 8; Rice 9, Soucek 8, Benrahma 8, Fornals 8 (Diop n/a), Lanzini 8 (Noble n/a), Benrahma 8 (Yarmolenko 9); Antonio 9 (Fredericks n/a).

Yarmolenko inspires win over Villa

West Ham 2 Aston Villa 1

There's some surprise from Matt, Lisa, Nigel and Michael at my appearance in the Best Cafe, but as I point out, in today's world all the old certainties are crumbling. We have to be prepared to fight for our right to eat chips. The big news is that Nigel has seen Tony Cottee on the tube and that Matt, sporting a pink WHU shirt in support of breast cancer charities, has done a triffic, top top phone interview with Harry Redknapp. 

We meet Fraser — who has discovered a new cellar at his gaff, as you do — in the stadium and the first half sees an evenly-matched game with the keepers hardly troubled. Benrahma starts well with a shot on target but then makes lots of unforced errors while Ramsey's dribble causes a few problems, but it looks like a dour 0-0 at the break, with the Villa players constantly going down with supposed injuries. It seems the Jack Grealish sniper has stayed in Birmingham. Then Nigel eats his lucky banana at half-time and a game develops.

Fabianski deflects Ings' shot on to the post, then Zouma forces a great save from Martinez and Dawson somehow heads the rebound over. The game changes when Andriy Yarmolernko comes on for the injured Antonio. He receives a moving ovation and with his country being battered literally and not metaphorically, you have to admire his bravery in playing. 

Yarmy immediately looks up for it, holding the ball up and spraying some good passes out wide. None of us have ever doubted hm (much). His moment comes when Benrahma finds him with a difficult ball, He controls it and dinks a lovely effort in the corner with the outside of his boot. A touch of class and a glimpse of the player we might have seen had not an ACL injury stalled his progress at WHU. Andriy is in tears as he points to the skies and it's a moment that transcends a mere football match.

The second goal sees Benahama get another assist after a typically surging run from Rice. Said finds Fornals who strokes home, a goal that will do Pablo's confidence a lot of good. There's still time for sub Diop to be out-muscled by Buendia and Ramsey to stroke home from the edge of the box to ensure a nervous finish.

But it remains Yarmy's day as the Hammers hold out for a 2-1 won. We retreat to the Railway, a pub that is unaware of the craft beer revolution, where Newcastle Brown is the best beer on offer and Michael almost becomes a rebel without a Cors. It also boasts a Seventies soul disco, allowing one of our headbanging number to admit to having an Isley Brothers album. Nigel and Matt discuss footie trivia about Bon Accord and Darwen FC and it's been a good day all round. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Johnson 7, Dawson 6, Zouma 7, Cresswell 7 (Fredericks 6); Rice 8, Soucek 6, Benrahma 7 (Diop n/a), Fornals 7, Lanzini 6; Antonio 6 (Yarmolenko 10).

Photo: Michael the Whovian

Still in it after narrow defeat at Sevilla

Sevilla 1 West Ham 0 (Europa Legue)

Watching a big match at 5.45pm on BT Sport feels a little odd, though it does remind me of my teenage days watching the Irons in the Cup Winners Cup on the BBC in 1976. Diehards Matt, Lisa and Fraser have gone to Becontree to watch in the Dagenham clubhouse, before the West Ham versus Chelsea women's match. Sevilla have an interesting ground, open on three sides because they just don't get rained on, with the 3000 Hammers fans squeezed into one corner.

West Ham start confidently with Ben Johnson, up against quality players, looking really cool at right back. Sevilla do manage to get between our centre backs for a couple of headers and Munir should score when well-placed. The best chance of the first half falls to West Ham. Rice gets his heads to Cresswell's free kick and Vlasic heads straight at Bono, when if he'd headed it downwards he would surely have scored. Though it's a little baffling why the U2 frontman is in goal, but he certainly found what he was looking for there.

Vlasic has a better low drive tipped round the post by Bono and the Hammers are happy with a goalless first half. After the break Antonio plays the ball back to Soucek who has a stinging effort saved by Bono. But Sevilla step up a gear and their tight inter-passing, with Jesus Navas prominent, starts to get behind the Hammers' defence. 

Sevilla take the lead from a set piece. Acuna crosses  and Munir finds himself unmarked at the back of the box and fires an excellent first-time volley into the corner past Areola. West Ham are lucky not to be two goals down as Dawson's mistake lets in Ocampos, who shoots wide. Areola also has to make a smart save by his post to keep the score down.

Benrahma comes on after 67 minutes and makes a difference. Most notably when his deflected cross falls for Lanzini, who is foiled by a heroic block from Navas.

The game ends at 1-0 and it's been a mature, controlled performance against the six-time winners of the Europa League - though as at Liverpool it's marred by a lack of cutting edge. Still, with Bowen back and a hostile home crowd we will surely give them a game at the London Stadium. Irons!

Good performance, no points at Anfield

Liverpool 1 West Ham 0 

It looks ominous in the second minute when a quick free kick sets Salah clear, only for Fabianski to make a good one-on-one save. But even without the ill Rice the Irons grow into the game with Soucek and Lanzini doing an effective job in front of the defence. Antonio is looking up for it, he races through on to Cresswell's pass and stings the palms of Alisson and a few minutes later has another low effort saved. He's not going to beat Van Dijk for pace but it's encouraging that he's trying to.

Alexander-Arnold sends a free kick narrowly wide as the hosts attempt to make up ground on Man City. Liverpool take the lead when a scuffed shot from Alexander-Arnold falls to Mane, who has got behind Dawson as Fabianski hesitates. It goes to VAR and Mane is deemed onside by a hand —although if that had been WHU scoring it would surely gave been chalked off.

Cresswell has to stay calm to turn and clear the ball off the West Ham line as Liverpool threaten a second. But suddenly it's West Ham who should be scoring. Johnson plays a ball over the top and Fornals is through against Alisson. Pablo panics a bit and lobs the keeper, only for Alexander-Arnold to clear off the line. Even then Vlasic should score with the loose ball but takes one touch too many.

The second half sees more West Ham chances. Bowen is through but foiled by a tough challenge and then has to depart with a leg injury. Another great chance comes when Soucek does well to get in a cross and Manuel Lanzini appears to have got the ball under control only to slice over from six yards out.

Then sub Mark Noble plays a glorious first-time ball through to Antonio. Micky takes a little too long and rather than shoot or find Benrahma he allows Keita to get a block in. Jota is booked for a nasty foul on Lanzini and Dan Chesters gets a couple of minutes for his league debut.

At least we have Liverpool holding it in the corner at the end, while Salah has been shackled and now subbed off. It's been a good performance and WHU have run Liverpool closer than most teams — but really should have got a point from this. Antonio looks back on form but our midfielders really need to start scoring again. Let's hope this big effort on Merseyside hasn't made the Hammers too tired before the Europa League away leg at Sevilla. 

Concentrating on the leagues...

Southampton 3 West Ham 1 (FA Cup)

It's on to BBC iPlayer for live coverage of this difficult away cup tie on the south coast. Some 5000 Irons fans are present and the cries of "Tottenham get battered everywhere they go!" come across clearly on the tele.

The Saints have made nine changes while Moyes makes just two. The Hammers start well and should capitalise on early pressure when Antonio crosses for Bowen to head over when well placed. Soucek scuffs a couple of chances wide but after half an hour the game turns when left-back Perraud thumps home a swerving shot from outside the box. It's a great effort though Areola appears caught off guard by it.

At the break the Saints bring on Broja and Stuart Armstrong to pose more problems. In a way that summarises the difference between the two squads. We have just Antonio while Southampton have four strikers in Stuart and Adam Armstrong, Broja and Shane Long, or maybe five if you add Theo Walcott.

The second half begins with Ward-Prowse going close before the Hammers force a series of corners. Thankfully for us Caballero drops a corner, Diop pokes it across the box and Antonio taps home an easy goal. Could the Cup Final breakfast at Nigel's gaff in Kew be back on?

Actually not. Dawson appears to have made a good tackle on Broja but the decision goes to sodding VAR. The ref has to look at three replays on his monitor but ultimately gives the penalty. To me it seems that Broja is looking for the foul and goes down when he could shoot. Ward-Prowse puts it down the middle and scores.

Soucek goes off with a bloody head injury and my WhatsApp feed is running hot with the Vicar's Son berating late subs Benrahma and Vlasic. Benrahma tries his best though with little effect to create something against a well-drilled defence and the side do have some late attacks. Dawson very nearly equalises after a corner when Caballero makes a fine reflex save from his header. 

We're in added time when the speedy Broja, who also terrorised our defence at the London Stadium, drifts inside Dawson, glides past Zouma, who should do better, and then slots it into the corner.

Oh well, it's going to have to be a Europa League Final breakfast at Nigel's gaff now — though I'm not specifying in what year. At least we can now concentrate on the Europa League and the top six so it's still a good season overall. Though the frustrating thing is that we had the chances to get a result here and end 42 years of hurt in the FA Cup. Liverpool and Sevilla away next — what could possibly go wrong?