OBJECTIVITY at this stressful stage of the season, after West Ham United have sat in the relegation zone for several months, does not come easy to Irons fans: Least of all me.
So when the BBC reporter at the game yesterday comes out with words that will strike fear into every Tottenham supporter’s heart, it carries the weight and authority of impartiality – which I most certainly do not.
BBC reporter gets first hand insight of what will tip the scales in relegation fight
Chris Wise, the BBC’s final score reporter at London Stadium, summed up the new spirit he saw within the team and the new atmosphere he found at the Hammers’ home ground yesterday afternoon:
“If West Ham stay up this season, they’ll likely point to Saturday’s match-winning goal from Callum Wilson and say ‘that was our moment.’
“Most clubs in West Ham’s current predicament probably don’t find a way to win that game. Not just because of their league position, but having conceded an equaliser so late on as well.
For those with less spirit, there would have been no coming back from that. But clearly, we’re talking about a different West Ham team now.”
After the meek capitulations under Potter, it seems the Hammers have a steely core thanks to Nuno and to the players themselves: Now that the divisive characters (we know who they were..) have been weeded out, this group of players is doing its damnedest to dig itself out of the hole in which the club found itself, fourteen points behind Tottenham Hotspur – whose own demise has been as remarkable as the Hammers’ recovery.
And as Chris Wise sums up, for all those Claret and Blue fans whose nails are already bitten down to the quick with still another four weeks of this saga to unfold: