Be proud – our amazing Hammers gave it absolutely everything after that exhausting United clash
Match verdict
Stoke City 2 Irons 1
What I saw at Stoke this afternoon was a team that should have been physically and emotionally drained after a colossal Tuesday night game and all the drama surrounding it off the pitch.
What I saw at Stoke this afternoon was a team who for much of the game were stroking the ball around like a new found friend and creating enough chances to win five games.
And despite the incredible rigours of that match against Manchester United not one of them left a thing on the City pitch this afternoon.
In the end we didn’t take those chances but that was as much down to Potters keeper Shay Given who made some remarkable saves and an off colour Diafra Sakho who certainly should have put a second away and tied up the game.
West Ham’s brilliant players – with Michail Antonio again showing the way – surely gave Roy Hodgson the heftiest nudge in the world ahead of the European Finals.
No Payet, no problem was my cry in the first half as we dominated Stoke but once again could not secure a comfortable lead but it became a little more problematical in the second and in the end we were beaten by a team who showed that the thought of summer sun loungers had never entered their heads.
Now the excitement goes on to beyond the end of the season as we await the FA Cup Final which if United can win will supply us with a passage into Europe.
Whether a European campaign is what we need next season as we adjust from homely Upton Park to the grandeur and luxury of the OS is something I’ll address later on.
All that needs to be said for now is that despite the fact we still don’t know the outcome of the Euro mission, this has been the greatest season many of us can remember.
We signed a new manager who like many of the fresh arrivals was unproven at PL level yet they have gone on to perform wonders and give us a brand of football that this time last year we couldn’t have imagined.
I personally say a huge thank you to Slav, the players and the two Daves. That we feel disappointed not to have made Europe today is an indication of a near miracle that has been performed during a wondrous season.
COYI