I know every season has its "ifs, buts and maybes" but in all my years of supporting West Ham, I can't remember one where we have led against 10 men twice (Fulham at home, Sunderland away) and failed to go on and win the game, and where we have also been two goals to the good against a side in the bottom 3, only to need an equaliser to secure a result after they too had seen a player get his marching orders. That wasn't six points lost, that was six points surrendered!
Had we banked those six points, we would currently be in 10th place, just two points behind Fulham and so with 9th place very much in our sights. People were talking yesterday of the "thin margin" between success and failure in the Prem after Megson was sacked and there is a certain irony that he went after Bolton surrendered a two goal lead against 11 man Hull! Some might put our plight down to injuries but injuries happen to all teams over the course of a season; what shouldn't happen is surrendering out on the pitch and we have done it 3 times this season now. If we go down, those games will haunt us for a very long time!
IF only we had capitalised on a half time lead when playing 10 man Fulham, BUT that wasn't as bad as losing a two goal lead against 10 man Sunderland although MAYBE failing to win against 10 man Hull, after leading 2-0 inside 20 minutes, was the most damaging result of all!
As 2009 disappears down the plug hole, 6 easy points disappear with it!
I would like to put a camera in our dressing room at half-time, as becoming a fly is unavailable for obvious reasons. I bet I would see Zola telling the players the results was in the bag and to keep it defensive.
ReplyDeleteI reckon you would see a statue of the Virgin Mary and Zola on his knees praying!
ReplyDelete