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
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