Th Mirror’s Darren Lewis is the one national newspaperman who always gives West Ham the credit they deserve.We saw that last week when he made the Irons v Spurs game all about us rather than  report on “what’s gone wrong with Spurs” like many others. We are delighted he has given CandH this exclusive blog in which he declares: “Even those within Upton Park can dare to dream.”

By Darren Lewis

JUST ONE thing should please West Ham fans even more than that stunning win at Everton on Saturday.

Not the return to the scoresheet of talismanic striker Diafra Sakho after more than three months out with injury.

Nor the brilliance of keeper Adrian for that game-changing save to keep out Romelu Lukaku’s penalty with Everton 2-0 up and rampant.

Or even the scintillating form of winger Michail Antonio, who now has five in eight – including key goals in his each of his last three League games.

What should delight the West Ham faithful is the fact that so few people outside the Irons’ fanbase are talking about the club in relation to the Champions League.

Glance through Twitter, listen to the radio or watch the TV. It is all Manchester City this, United that – even chat about Liverpool or Chelsea’s chances of succeeding with a late run.

West Ham right now are the team that isn’t there. 

Even though they have been in and around the European places for months.

Even though they have beaten the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Liverpool this season.

Even though they sit fifth in the Premier League, a point behind fourth-placed City and just three behind Arsenal in third.

City may have a game in hand but Manuel Pellegrini’s impressive squad have shown themselves to be inconsistent. They have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions.

United sit two points behind West Ham in sixth and were beaten at West Brom yesterday. They have won just one of their last eight away games. Yet their top-four credentials are seen to be greater than West Ham’s: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35681004.

Liverpool’s win at Crystal Palace left them six points off the Champions League places. Yet they too are shorter odds than West Ham.

It is easy to see why. Both sides have a higher calibre of player and managers perceived as being equal to the task.

Slaven Bilic won’t mind that as he quietly (too quietly for a few dictaphones in press conferences) goes about his business.

It is he, however, who could yet provide a fitting climax to what has been – and still is – an incredible season.

Don’t get me wrong, the Irons need to do better themselves on the road if they are to make the most of this golden opportunity to open the Olympic Stadium with Champions League football next season.

Yet considering they have won just three of their last 12 on the road and have struggled with crippling injuries this season they have done superbly well to have put themselves in this position.

Saturday’s win at Goodison was even more impressive as Bilic had had just one fit senior centre-half, Angelo Ogbonna, available to him.

It was the first time in 16 years that West Ham had recovered from two goals down to win a Premier League game. They previously did it in February 2000 with a 5-4 win over Bradford City.

James Tomkins is expected back for next weekend’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United. Even more significantly, Winston Reid should return for West Ham’s next league game, away to Chelsea on March 19.

Even allowing for the (big) loss of James Collins – out for a month – the returning centre-halves give the club added cause for optimism going into perhaps their biggest end of season home straight in Premier League history.

They enter it with inspirational Dimitri Payet on fire, Andy Carroll hungry to make up for lost time, Antonio on a hot-streak and skipper Mark Noble fuelled with that sense of injustice after Roy Hodgson’s frankly ludicrous claim that Jack Wilshere could yet go to the Euros despite not having played all season.

Cheikou Kouyate is a player that would walk into any team in the top flight bar none. Aaron Cresswell hasn’t had the credit he deserves while Enner Valencia and Victor Moses should be back at Old Trafford next weekend.

The squad built by Bilic, owner David Sullivan and fixer Tony Henry has survived test after test this season. They coped for two months with Payet. They battled on for three without Sakho. They hung in there when Valencia and Moses were both ruled out for lengthy periods.

Keeper Darren Randolph did superbly when Adrian was suspended. And during that mid-season run of eight games without a win they fought to escape with a share of the points on six occasions. They wouldn’t have done last season. They were not good enough back then. 

Yes, West Ham still have tough games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United to come. Yet they beat the champions at home earlier this season. They stunned Arsene Wenger’s men on the opening weekend and they held United to a goalless draw in December. 

They will relish those fixtures. Not fear them.

Up until this point few fans have been willing to believe that the club could be planning for anything other than a Europa League campaign – at a push. 

Everton, however, changed all that.

There is still nervous apprehension as the season enters squeaky bum time. But with so many pundits seemingly oblivious to West Ham’s position in the Premier League table, the pressure remains off the club for the time being.

It means that even those within Upton Park can dare to dream.

Because in this incredible season of outrageous fantasy, West Ham are more than capable of providing the last big shock.