Stewart Downing: ‘I prefer the old stadium’

Former Hammer Stewart Downing says he prefers the Boleyn Ground after playing at the London Stadium on Saturday but says the players are going to have to get used it.

“Players wise there’s a lot of the same old faces but it felt a bit like going to a different club in terms of the stadium,” Downing told the Middlesborough Gazette.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely ground and set-up, but I prefer the old stadium. Upton Park used to be right on top of you, with the fans really close. This is all a bit different, and I found it a bit strange. “

“The atmosphere is a bit different to what it was like at Upton Park but the players are going to have to get used to that, they’ve moved now and they have to get on with it. That’s just the way it is. It’ll take time and you can see they’re a little bit low on confidence at the minute.”

“But this is where they’re playing now and they have to get used to it. They’re going to have to make it a hard place to come, whereas at the minute, people are getting results.”