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!