Irons Match verdict: Give it up for the boys!

Match verdict

Irons 2 Saints 1

First things first – heartiest congratulations Michail Antonio on your man of the match – thoroughly deserved…

Welcome back Manu Lanzini – you made the difference…

…very well done Andy Carroll – we are delighted for you….

…and finally we are back up to seventh place with 29 points!

That was one hell of a game – we were utterly hopeless in the first half which for very good reasons we will forget but with the arrival of Carroll and Lanzini after half time absolutely everything changed.

The ball carrying Argentinian appeared for the entirely ineffective Alex Song and coupled with the fearless and direct running of Antonio we suddenly looked fearless, dangerous, gutsy and exciting.

With Lanzini’s skill and invention coming to the fore the Saints team – who had ruled it over us in a one sided first half – were pushed further and further back and it was only going to be a matter of time before Jenkinson’s own goal from the 13th minute was going to be cancelled out.

Poor Jenks had been launched into the left back position as the patched up Hammers went looking for their first win in two months and it was almost par for the course that his would be the final boot on a ball in from Shane Long’s cross  which first was touched on by Tanic – Adrian was left with no chance.

But Antonio, as he had promised, came to the party and fulfilled his promise that he could scare Premier League defences.

And he scored the luckiest goal ever when he charged into the box on 68 mins, lost control, appealed for a pen, saw had the ball crashed back against him   and watched in wonder as it looped over the keeper and into the net.

The Hammers were rampant after that with Valencia – showing some real form at last – seeing a low shot well saved before we should have had a spot kick when Carroll was blocked off by Bertrand only for the ref to give a foul the other way.

It was to make no difference because 11 minutes from time Valencia curled in a wicked ball, that man Antonio  headed against the bar and AC waltzed in to head the rebound into the corner of the net.

There were a couple of scares towards the end but the amazing second half heroics of every Iron on the pitch ensured that we hung on for our first win in two months.

A victory  on the final day of the old year is precisely what we required.We have our best players coming back but I’ll tell you this – Antonio is becoming a better and better player and Slav will have a hard time dropping the boy.

One run right at the death from his own penalty area, 70 yards down field before his legs turned to jelly and he fired over was a sight to behold.

Make no mistake – there’s nothing to worry about in this squad – it was just the lads took too long to show the impetus we’ve been crying out for.

But it’s back and we look great.

Give it up for the mighty Irons everybody! Remember this was the team that had beaten the Gooners 4-0 a couple of days ago.