Hammers co chairman David Gold stopped and considered for a brief moment before handing out a JOINT man of the match award to Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena.
You have to go back to December15th at Craven Cottage to find the last clean sheet and speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh after the game Gold said: “It’s no coincidence that the first choice pair were in the team today when we get another is it!
“I thought they were both quite magnificent. Young Issa looked incredible and The General was at the same level – I couldn’t separate them.”
Gold admitted that he would have been happy to accept a draw before the game whilst hoping for the win of course but got a great buzz when he heard our fans in such good voice before the game.
He said: “I started to get the vibe that we could win it – they were so upbeat and optimistic – and then the manager showed he had got the preparations spot on.
“The lads were chasing and closing down so well in the first half before turning it on in the second. It was a famous and historic victory.”
And he laughed: “I saw Mark Noble on the edge of their box and wondered what this elderly gentleman was doing in such a position.”
But it was the energy of the team which was the basis of the victory for the co chairman as he celebrated victory over “the one team I love to beat above all others.
He said: “The energy was incredible and in the end deserved the victory. Every one played their part but those two at central defence were amazing.
“Let’s just hope we can go out with two more wins. The future is looking really good on the basis of what we saw against Chelsea in the second half, at Man United, against Leicester and now today.
“When you put injuries, four defeats at the start of the season and some horrible decisions over recent games into the equation over the season it could have all been much better but the quality of football is now there for all to see and we have to be optimistic.”