ClaretandHugh’s exclusive blogger, Hammers legend Ray Stewart gives his verdict on last night’s performance against Leeds.
It’s not always the greatest advantage to have a nine day break between games as the Irons showed in the first quarter of an hour or so last night.
To be honest I was really worried during that period when the visitors were on top and we were obviously too fresh from the break.
But once again we demonstrated – once hitting our form – what a good team this has become over the season.
And let’s say it straight away Craig Dawson was magnificent and showed again – as did Jesse Lingard – what an eye David Moyes has for a player.
Jesse was brilliant always driving forward determined to make things happen and even if we had had a choice of him or Martial, he would have been my pick because he suits our game perfectly.
Penalties were my business of course and nobody really gets the pressure you are under.
Last night the keeper went the right way and probably should have held onto it but fair play to Jesse he didn’t mess about from the rebound.
Declan obviously came to an arrangement that as he won the pen e deserved the chance of taking it – nice but I think Dec will be our taker from here on.
The confidence and camaraderie of the Hammers squad is something to behold and even though not at their best, they never really looked troubled and it could easily have been more but for the woodwork.
They are finding a way of keeping the pressure on at the top and it’s turning into one heck of a finale to the season.
Guys, we have a team and manager of who we should all feel immensely proud.
See you at the weekend for the big Old Trafford game.
Tonka was talking to Hughie Southon
Couldn’t agree more Tonka, really enjoying the ride, was looking at points totals and the fifth place finishers average since the beginning of PL is 65.285 points (based on 28 seasons) so if we score 66 or more we have a better than average chance of 4th place, that would mean a strong finish as we would need the equivalent of 6 wins out of our 11 remaining games, the highest ever fifth place finish was Arsenal 2016/17 with 75 points but most are under 70 the lowest being Newcastle Utd in 2003/2004 with 56 points and our lowest 5th place finish was in 1998/99 with 57 points.