Ray Stewart: ‘If ‘Fab’ had played we wouldn’t have lost”

ClaretandHugh’s top exclusive blogger Hammers legend Ray ‘Tonka Stewart gives his verdict on the performance at the Etihad

The Irons were exceptional this afternoon – nobody could have asked for mew, I was proud of them and like Vlad Coufal, who was obviously totally gutted at the end, I reckon we should have had more.

From front to back we were magnificent at times and I felt for Issa Diop at the end missing a chance which looked all set to be buried.

Had he done so, justice would have been done because we deserved a draw from that game against the best team in Britain.

Today we were always gonna find out how good West ham United are and we did …they are very very good – a team I believe that is on its way into Europe.

Declan Rice had an absolutely awesome game and I have made a point of telling that boy that if he stays with this club he can become as big a legend as Mooro or Bonzo.

I don’t believe – had Fabianski been playing – we would have lost because I’m sure he would have been out and caught De Bruyne’s cross.

Randolph did well to carry on after his injury but I’m convinced that but for that, we would have got the draw.

We have now played the very best team around and shown ourselves to be not that far behind – our future looks superb

Tonka was talking to Hugh Southon