My day begins with a trip from Ravenglass to Euston after a spot of Wainwright-bagging, and then it's on to the London Stadium with Fraser and Nigel, who has dumped his 'lucky' Wimbledon FC bag in favour of a lucky Copenhagen Airlines bag and an Ilulissat t-shirt.
We get to see Euro-winning Hammer Ellen White interviewed on the pitch and then an introduction to Lucas Paquet. We're joined by Lisa, Matt and Michael, who is carrying an Anything Goes programme plus a folio of his own play, perhaps hoping that he might bump into a theatre impresario in the Billy Bonds Stand.
The game starts at a lively pace, with Perisic getting in some dangerous crosses and Fornals testing Lloris with an effort from the edge of the box. Then comes the VAR penalty controversy. Ref Stuart Atwell awards a penalty for handball against Cresswell even though the ball has been played at him from point-blank range. After an interminable VAR delay the decision is correctly overturned as the ball hit Cresswell on the head and then deflected on to his arm.
The crowd celebrate the overturned penalty as if it's a goal and that inspires West Ham. Rice has a thumping volley punched away by Lloris. Benrahma finds Antonio, who cuts inside and curls an excellent effort against the post.
But Spurs always look threatening on the break, and when Rice advances too far and Benrahma mis-controls the attempted one-two, Spurs burst forward. The pacy Kulusevski finds the overlapping Kane who crosses low for Kehrer to poke into his own net under pressure from Son.
BOUNCING SOUCEK
The second half starts ominously as Kulevesky crosses for Son to shoot wide. But the Hammers are starting to press Spurs' defence much more effectively as Lloris is forced to kick into touch. Coufal's quick throw is controlled by Antonio who produces a great flick to Soucek. Tomas has a lot to do but controls well and fires a half volley into the net to spark pandemonium in the Bobby Moore end. That's potato salad to add to Spurs' lasagne. It's a good moment for Antonio, in for the ill Scamacca, who has played like a man fighting for his place,
The Irons sense a winner. More pressing sees Soucek get in a cross that Bowen pokes wide under pressure. Sanchez goes close with an overhead kick but the Hammers come again. Coufal is starting to rampage down the right as of old and gets in a decent cross that Fornals volleys over. It's turning into a cracking end to end game as Kane's scuffed volley is dealt with by Fabianski.
Spurs are worried and wasting time. As Hojbjerg goes down yet again Mystic Matt suggests that, "there's little more annoying than a self-styled hard-man who spends most of their time writhing around pretending to be hurt."
Can it happen again? Soucek wins a lost ball and crosses for Bowen to shoot wide.Then Jarrod wins a tackle and races down the right wing to play in the overlapping Soucek. Tomas gets in an inviting low cross but subs Paqueta and Emerson leave it to each other.
Right at the end the ball ricochets off Ogbonna and falls to Bowen who pokes it agonisingly across goal. The whistle blows and it's a decent point against a Spurs team likely to finish in the top four. Once Scamacca and Paqueta are fully integrated then WHU can surely have another decent season — this was certainly the best we've played so far.
We retreat to the Refreshment Rooms for Meantime ale as Nigel entertains us with interesting facts about Liechtenstein and Matt and Fraser tell us about the the times they wound up Frank Bruno. The Hammers deserved to win on chances, but this was more like the performances of a year ago. Now we just have to show Chelsea where to stick their blue flag on Saturday.
PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Coufal 8, Zouma 8, Kehrer 6, Cresswell 6 (Ogbonna 6); Rice 8, Soucek 8, Fornals 7, Benrahma 6 (Paquet 6), Fornals 7 (Emerson n/a); Bowen 7, Antonio 8.
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