However you look at it, West Ham’s achievement in holding down sixth place and staring Europe in the eye has been one hell of a success story.

But how much better might it have been in terms of luck, then and now, had we not suffered key injuries and of course it hasn’t got a great deal better over the last couple of weeks or so.

Cast your mind back just a few short weeks to the injury absence of Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia, Andy Carroll, Dimi Payet and Manu Lanzini.

During Payet’s absence in particular we had five draws in a row! Is there anybody ready to argue we wouldn’t have collected another two or three wins and four to six more points on JUST those five games had such influential players been available

Those one pointers came against West Brom Man United, Stoke, Swansea and Villa so it’s a hard one not to argue isn’t it ?

Ok we don’t live in a world of ‘might have beens’ and it is what it is but just as were missing those ATTACKING guys back then, now, despite being hit by key injuries to our top defenders, we go on picking up points – notably against Spurs.

It’s frustrating, annoying and disturbing but just as we coped back then, I expect us to do so again but let’s pay another enormous tribute to the manager, players and those who put this great squad together and the resilience within it.

No Reid, no Collins, no Tomkins, no Byram (suspended of course) again this weekend but we’ll cope. However, where on earth would we be with just a little more luck.

COYI