“This will be the first, and last, time I visit this ground”, I say to my companion (*more on him later), as we’re stood in the same spot that we have been for at least ten minutes, with a queue for an airport style scanner and a UFO-style bowl of a stadium ahead, a giant red male genitalia-shaped structure to our right, and with kick-off fast approaching. Leaving central London an hour and a half before kick off for a direct tube train, had seemed to be plenty of time, but evidently not. None of us like these new grounds with nothing around them (ie: no pubs) but you really do seem to be in the middle of nothing here, and it seems to take an age to get anywhere. Getting inside, just as the game is about to kick off, the first thing I notice is that the upper tier is a good 15 yards further back from the lower tier, which is just basically a temporary stand which has been built over/in front of the stadiums actual lower tier. First impressions were not good, but then again the expectations were not particularly high to start with.But it's amazing how quickly the feeling can change. As a 4-1 win unfolded, and following on from a 4-0 victory earlier in the calendar year, the stadium started to slightly resemble somewhere where we’d normally play a European Cup final. And then feelings quickly returned to those of earlier, as we took the circuitous route back to Stratford station after the game. Why a club which has such a historic place in football would want to move to an athletics ground, would ordinarily beggar belief. There is of course only one reason why, which we all know, however it may be dressed up. Upton Park was one of those grounds that just had a real character about it, people would tell me. A magic, a traditional British football ground, with neat old stands and large terraces, close to the pitch, and in a busy area. A ground that supporters looked forward to visiting. And previous highlights for the Reds there include both Michael Robinson and John Toshack scoring left foot, right foot and headed goal hat-tricks. Having enjoyed those memories on the Official History video as a kid, my eagerly anticipated and only visit to Upton Park watching Liverpool in 2008, ended with defeat in a game that is memorable for absolutely nothing, apart from for me personally the fact that it’s the only time I’ve ever watched a goal being scored, on a TV on the concourse. Whilst virtually never an early-leaver, the game had gone past the allotted injury time with West Ham attacking, the cheers when reaching the bottom of the steps indicated not a goal, but that a major incident had gone in the home sides favour. That penalty was scored by a young Mark Noble, who epitomises the sort of player that every supporter loves to have at their club. He’s from your area, loves the club, shows desire, passion, grit and determination, gives his absolute all, and deservedly goes on to captain them. Practically a one-club man, and like a number of others in that position at unfashionable clubs, strangely overlooked at International level. The Hammers now seem set for mid-table security this season, after an awful start in which they seemed almost certain for relegation, until our neighbours generously gifted them the three points that started the turnaround. Pellegrini was seemingly a certainty for the sack if they didn’t get a result there. When the above mentioned hat-tricks were both scored, West Ham, with John Lyall, were incredibly only on their FIFTH manager in the clubs history. In contrast, Pellegrini is the tenth person to have managed the Hammers in the 21st century, but that’s modern football sadly.We go into the game on the back of a disappointing home draw, yet having extended our lead. A strange feeling of optimism and frustration, and what might have been. Perhaps it will prove to be a valuable lesson though, as absolutely nothing can be taken for granted, as that lead could be overturned as quickly as two games. We have to do our own job, forget about the cushion we have, and worry about what others do later. Our injury woes at the back seem to get worse by the week, and as surprising as this would ordinarily sound, the return of James Milner to slot in at right-back is vital.It’s impossible to predict what West Ham side will turn up. They come in to this game on the back of two embarrassing defeats in five days, and a loss at Bournemouth the week before, yet prior to that they beat Arsenal. The only thing predictable about them this season, is their unpredictability.*For those who are still reading (which hopefully will be most!), my companion on the day was a gentleman from the West side of the USA, who was making his 23rd (and still counting…) visit to the UK to follow his loves of LFC, music, and to see his many friends in Liverpool, London, and across the country. The more long-standing members of RAWK, will be delighted to know that he is back over again in March for his 26th visit, and will tick off another ground as he visits Craven Cottage whilst on the London part of his trip. I however, have gone against what I said whilst stood in that queue, and will be in attendance on Monday evening. Hopefully the same result, but 4-1, 6-0, 1-0 with a first minute scrappy own goal, it doesn’t matter. Let’s just get the win please Reds.
West Ham having a decent go and the crowd is responding.
9 nice build up from West Ham, the ball is cleared form our area and cresswell shaves the left hand post again.
15' Keita attempts to push forward but loses the ball and West Ham break. Excellent save from Alisson who pushes the ball wide.
19' - Naby with a lovely little run through the middle gets the ball to Bobby who goes for placement not power and Fabianski makes a comfortable save to his left. That looked more promising though.
22' - GOAL!!!ManeOffside in there - but no VAR
26' - Really untidy play twice within a minute. West Ham's pressing is paying off. Dangerous FK 35 yds outWest Ham score - they take a clever kick along the ground and Antonio finishes in the far corner
